Mourners Gather in Remembrance of Saheed Vassell, Killed By Police in Crown Heights

Hundreds of family members and friends of Saheed Vassell, the mentally ill man killed by police in Crown Heights earlier this month, gathered in a neighborhood church to pay their respects on Thursday.

Some wore custom t-shirts with a photo of Vassell, 34, emblazoned with the words, "Rest in Power."

Vassell was shot nine times by NYPD officers on April 4, after he brandished what turned out to be a metal piece of pipe at passersby as if it were a gun. Police say Vassel pointed the object at them right before the responding officers opened fire.

Mourners were angry about Vassell's death. Many of them recalled fond memories of him and his family. They described him as being kind and caring. Some were frustrated that officers who knew Vassell from the 71st Precinct didn't recognize him before opening fire. Others felt people on the street should have intervened.

"I truly think it's a community problem," said a mourner who identified himself only as Muzart. "That's the reason why he's this way, because nobody came and pulled him to the side and say 'Yo what are you doing, that's wrong. Yo what's going on? Stop that.' No one."

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is investigating the fatal shooting. Vassell's funeral and burial will take place Friday.