Family and friends remember Michael Giles

“I just wish I could have said goodbye to my brother, and I just want him to know how much I love him,” says LeAunna Giles about her brother.

It’s an emotional time for the Giles family as they try to piece together what happened to their brother Michael Giles before he died.

On Wednesday, they comforted each other with hugs as they surrounded a memorial they made to keep Michael’s memory alive.

“I’m still searching for answers, things are still surfacing and we are trying to piece together things as they are surfacing,” says Giles.

Lompoc Police officers shot and killed Michael Giles after they say he was found carrying a knife. His sister says she’s devastated and shocked that this happened.

“I got a phone call it was very hard I could barely understand my brother he was telling me he thought Michael had gotten hurt,” she says.

A memorial with flowers, candles and some of Michael’s belongings now sit in the place where he was shot.

“Michael was a caring person, very passionate about what he believed in,” says Giles.

“He has the kindest of hearts he always put people before him,” says Kelsi Kuster, Michael’s cousin.

His family is having a service for him on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. at The Trinity Church located at 500 E. North Avenue in Lompoc.