Candles lit, balloons released in memory of Azuree Charles

“Playful,” “friendly,” “polite” and “nice kid” were all common responses from people when asked about Azuree Charles.

The 9-year-old boy was remembered by at least 200 people outside the East Ken Manor office building along Gardlock Court in New Kensington on Thursday evening, a day after his body was found outside of a nearby home.

“It should have never happened,” said Bill Olbeter. “It’s shocking. I have four young ones. We held on tight, and we’ve been keeping an eye on them. The reason we’re doing this is so we can get the whole community tight-knit and get it together during a tragic time.”

His wife, Lisa, and residents Brittany Bush and Lauren Weilant helped to organize the remembrance.

The mothers said they wanted to do something to show love for Azuree and help everyone cope with what took place. Several children talked about the loss of their friend.

“I’m more shocked,” said Olbeter’s daughter, Alexus, 14. “He was so full of life. He was very polite and made the community really happy. He made the community a really bright place. He will be missed.”

Children laid stuffed animals, toy cars and a few handwritten notes by a tree as others held candles and colored star- and heart-shaped balloons.

Small candles, not much bigger than a quarter, were placed to spell out Azuree’s initials on steps outside the building. They were accompanied by several taller candles and a framed photo of the boy wearing a red-and-black flannel shirt and dark pants.

Resident Gina Pace, a mother, led the group in prayer. She tried to hold back tears as she held a microphone.

“Your child is my child, and my child is your child,” Pace said. “That’s how we are up here. I came here and found family.”

She prayed for the Charles family and for protection of all children. Event organizers said no relatives attended the vigil.

Balloons were released shortly after the prayer. They brought some color to the gray skies, which began to rain just after the last one took flight.

Balloon release for Azuree Charles. pic.twitter.com/w8ylEd90MD

— Mike D. (@MikeJdiVittorio) May 6, 2022

“The day before the tragedy, my children were playing with him outside and riding bikes and stuff,” Pace said. “Then the next morning, he’s missing — like, how? That broke me, because that boy survived so much already. … (In) a blink of an eye, literally, everything can change, and that’s what happened. We’re standing for him.”

Family members previously said Azuree had suffered from health issues stemming from being born prematurely.

Investigators have not commented publicly on how Azuree died. He was found outside under a lawn chair behind a neighbor’s home after he had been reported missing.

Resident Michele Arce said she learned about Azuree’s death when an officer knocked on her door.

“That’s when the tears flew,” Arce said at the vigil. “They had told us what happened, and I was able to give them some reliable (security) footage. It’s hard, because our kids were going to be coming home a couple hours later, and we had to explain to them what happened. There were more tears.”

Arce lives with her husband, Tim, and their children. She said the incident has them hugging the young ones tighter.

“We’re definitely keeping our children very, very close,” Arce said. “Keeping them in very close proximity now until a little more time goes by.”

Arce’s daughter, Azalynn Lookhart, 9, was friends with Azuree. The two would play together often.

“I’m just so happy that everybody loved him,” Azalynn said while holding a balloon. “He was basically my best friend. We usually played with our bikes and do the regular stuff. He was always so nice and generous. I’m kind of scared. Just crying, relaxing.”

Other attendees played music while a few children handed out candy.

Lisa Olberter said Giant Eagle in New Kensington and Community Market in Lower Burrell donated the balloons.

School district remembers Azuree

New Kensington-Arnold Superintendent Chris Sefcheck said Azuree was in the third grade. Counselors were in schools Thursday to help grieving students, teachers and staff, while therapy dogs were at Roy A. Hunt Elementary in the afternoon for children to visit and relieve stress.

Sefcheck said Azuree’s teachers said he “was absolutely, without a doubt, the most innocent, sweetest, caring child in the world.”

“Always smiling, Azuree went out of his way to be kind and polite, holding doors open for others, stopping in the hallway to allow another to pass, picking up a candy wrapper after someone else had dropped it. He laughed often, his terrific sense of humor was contagious, and he never missed an opportunity to sing songs from ‘Encanto’ while doing his schoolwork.

“Azuree could cheer anyone up, because he was never down. If he was having a bad day, nobody knew, and he was always looking to give a hug. His persistence and perseverance were inspiring. He could have overcome just about any obstacle in his way and do it with the biggest smile on his face.

”Azuree touched the lives of everyone that he encountered, making us all better just by knowing him. He will be missed dearly.”