A Birmingham food truck worker shot to death when gunfire erupted during a weekend argument is being remembered for his smile and positive outlook.

Cornelius Quinterryo Kennedy, 26, was one of two men killed early Sunday during the dispute outside the Empire club. The other man killed was 43-year-old Carlos Antonio Stewart.

“I don’t know what to say, how to feel, but I know I’m hurt,’’ said Kennedy’s cousin, Shanika Kennedy.

North Precinct officers were dispatched just before 2 a.m. Sunday to the 100 block of Third Avenue North on a report of a person shot.

Once at the location, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald, they found one of the victims unresponsive on the sidewalk across from a parked food truck. That victim was Stewart, and Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead on the scene.

Investigators determined there was a verbal altercation at one of several food trucks parked outside Empire club. The altercation turned physical, and then shots were fired.

The suspect fled the scene before police arrived. No arrests have been announced and police have not said who they believe did the shooting.

As the investigation was ongoing, food truck workers got into the van that pulls the truck and realized there was another man dead inside the van. The discovery of Kennedy’s body was made more than an hour after the initial victim was found.

Fitzgerald said the second victim was part of the initial altercation and apparently got shot and then took refuge in the back of the van and died.

There was a large crowd outside the club, and multiple food vendors were there to serve them.

Shanika Kennedy said she was with her cousin earlier that day.

“He got in the car with me, and he was quiet, but I could tell there was a lot on his mind,’’ she said. “He was just telling me about the job.”

She said her cousin was concerned about a pay dispute from his food truck job, and she told him, “Go to him to man-to-man without drama or arguing with him.’’ she said. “He was going through a lot, but it didn’t show.”

She said she’s not sure if that was the argument that sparked the gunfire. “There’s a lot of’ he said, she said,’’’ she said. “There’s supposedly a video going around, but we haven’t seen it.”

It’s Shanika Kennedy’s understanding from talking to a witness and detectives that Stewart was shot first, and then her cousin who sought shelter in the van and then died.

“He was found in the van when the (other) workers were trying to pull off,’’ she said.

Kennedy was a graduate of Homewood High School where his cousin said he excelled at football. He leaves behind two children.

“He was full of talent,’’ she said. “Whatever his mind was set to do, he could do.”

She said Kennedy was heartbroken after his mother died in 2017, but never failed to show up for family gatherings. “He always made his way to us,’’ she said.

Shanika Kennedy said her cousin was always singing and always smiling.

“He always kept his head up,’’ she said. “He always said, ‘God’s got me.’’’

Anyone with information on the deadly double shooting is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.