DETROIT – The family of homicide victim Damian Sutton thanks the community for their support as the public was invited to a "celebration of Damian's life" Saturday at the Athena banquet hall on Gratiot Avenue in Roseville.
Family released thousands of balloons in remembrance of Damian at 4 p.m.
The event was geared as a thank you to the public for support and prayers offered to the family of the 2-year-old boy who died Tuesday.
Little Damian captured the hearts of so many after he was hospitalized on Aug. 21 and placed in a medically-induced coma.
Damian's father, Tim Sutton, was moved by the support from the community.
"There are strangers that come up to me on the streets and say our prayers and thoughts are with you. Everybody out there, it's really amazing how the community came together," Sutton said.
The toddler was in the care of his mother's boyfriend, 26-year-old Ronald Dimambro Jr., when he called 911 saying the boy had an asthma attack, according to the Macomb County Sheriff Tony Wickersham.
LISTEN: Washington Township 911 call
Dimambro is accused of attacking the boy and shaking him, causing severe brain swelling.
He was originally charged with child abuse, but the charge was amended to murder when the toddler died. Sutton died Tuesday morning at Children's Hospital in Detroit after spending several days fighting for his life.
Damian's mother, Nikkie Sutton, said she wants justice done for her son.
"He's going to get what he deserves and God will make sure that happens. There is not a person in this world who can give him what he deserves," Sutton said.
Tim Sutton said he cannot understand what would move a person to do what Dimambro is charged with doing.
"I don't understand what was going through him or what was done to make him so angry to do that to a two-year-old boy," Sutton said.
Friday, family and friends said goodbye to the boy with the big blue eyes at a private funeral service Friday.