Blue balloons were held high by students as they marched from Cherry Hall to Pearce-Ford Tower in honor of Larry Thomas Friday night in a march and vigil organized by Delta Sigma Theta sorority and Omega Psi Phi fraternity.

Thomas, a freshman, was shot during a robbery at the Greenhaven Apartments at 2001 Rock Creed Road on Sept. 2. He was airlifted to Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville that same night, where he later died.

Thomas’ father, Tariq Shabazz of Louisville, started off the memorial encouraging students to become successful.

“The one thing I can do to honor my son, to bring comfort and closure to me is to be a better man,” Shabazz said.

Students said having Thomas’s father at the march meant a lot, and made for an emotional experience.

Windchester junior Kinya Embry said the march and memorial were to celebrate Thomas’ life in a positive light.

“We felt like his death was put in a negative light, despite the situation,” Embry said.

Embry said she had a class with Thomas, but only saw him once before his death. She said everyone that has been a part of the march helped put up flyers about the event and promoted the march on Instagram.

“I’m very pleased and overjoyed with the outcome,” she said. “I hope it will stop the violence.”

Embry said she’s glad police have arrested and charged freshman Bradenton, Fla. freshman Dominique Wortham with the murder.

“I just hope it’s a wake up call,” she said.

Wortham was arrested with the assistance of the WKU Police Department in his Barnes-Campbell Hall room at 10:38 p.m. Thursday, according to Wortham’s arrest citation.

Wortham confessed to BGPD that he shot Thomas, BGPD said in a press release. Police said Wortham’s confession came after “an extensive investigation.” BGPD said the shooting happened in the course of a robbery.

BGPD also arrested and charged a second person with murder earlier today. 

Adriana M. Mason, 19, was arrested in Paducah earlier today for her involvement in Thomas’s death, according to a BGPD press release. Mason is not listed as a student in the WKU directory.

Louisville junior Jessica Saunders said she was friends with Thomas and saw him around campus frequently.

Saunders said the memorial and march the Deltas helped organize was nice.

“We’re all in his position as college students,” Saunders said. “We need to live life because tomorrow isn’t promised.”