Demetrius Trannon would have turned 35 on Thursday.

Instead of celebrating his birthday with him, his grieving family gathered at a Birmingham park to release balloons in his memory following a deadly shooting nearly two weeks ago.

Trannon left behind four daughters, two sons and a large, close-knit family.

“He was kind. He was loving,” said his mother, Teenecia Trannon. “We always had family functions and always had fun.”

Trannon was killed June 22, during an argument with his cousin at an east Birmingham home.

East Precinct officers were dispatched at 11:25 p.m. that Sunday to a report of a physical altercation at a house in the 8000 block of Fifth Avenue South.

While police were en route, they received an update that someone had been shot.

They arrived to find Demetrius unresponsive on the front porch of the house. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead at 11:42 p.m.

Krystell McDade, Trannon’s girlfriend of more than two years, said Trannon had gone to his cousin’s home to discuss a private matter with him.

The discussion, police said, escalated into a deadly argument.

“I just think it was emotions over intellect,” McDade said. “When you’re dealing with family, that’s the last thing you would think that would happen.”

Family said the two cousins were close.

“I just don’t think he thought his cousin would take it that far,” she said.

The shooter remained on the scene until police arrived.

When Birmingham homicide detectives presented their evidence to the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, the fatal shooting was ruled justified with no charges filed.

It was a ruling that didn’t sit well with Trannon’s mother.

“I’m angry because they killed my son and they justified it,” Teenecia Trannon said. “Head shots are not justified. I need answers.”

Trannon’s mother said she’s going to continue to fight for justice for her son.

“Everybody’s grieving,” she said. “Everybody’s mad.”

At Thursday’s candlelight vigil, dozens of family and friends lit candles and released balloons.

There was also a birthday cake for Trannon that read, “Gone Never Forgotten Demetrius 35.”

Trannon worked at Ventura Foods in Birmingham, and also ran his own car detailing service called, “Wet It Down Mobile Detail.”

When he wasn’t working, he liked to fish and spend time with his family. He was the oldest of seven siblings and extremely close to his younger brothers and sisters.

“He was just a people person,” his mother said.

McDade said she’s been devastated by Trannon’s death, but wanted to remember better times during Thursday’s gathering.

“Demetrius was a loving person, very family oriented,” she said.

“He’s going to be celebrated just like this every year for the rest of our lives as long as we’re alive. I miss him dearly.”