D’Angelo Shaw: A Celebration of Life

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - One year after military veteran D’Angelo Shaw was killed, his friends are remembering him and the legacy he left behind.

Friends described Shaw as a mentor and, for some, a source of family when they needed it most. They said he had a smile that could light up a room and a hug that could melt problems away.

Friends describe Shaw’s impact

Molly Penny, an assistant manager at Planet Fitness, said Shaw made her feel part of a family.

“But, like, so I’ve never really had a lot of family, and he kind of made me feel like I was a part of the family,” Penny said.

Angela Toney, Shaw’s friend and fellow gym manager, said Shaw never gave a handshake and always gave a hug. Toney is the general manager at Planet Fitness.

“It feels like yesterday. It feels like I just got that phone call. It feels like I just talked to him. And I would give anything for a hug. Anything. Anything to see his smile. To hear his stupid laugh. Or see his stupid dance moves. Because he couldn’t dance. His presence is missing,” Toney said.

Shaw went from experiencing homelessness to managing a gym. A year after his death, Penny said she still talks to him and hopes he is proud of the person she has become.

“He knew that I had it. He believed in me before I could believe in myself,” Penny said.

Case against Jeremy Scarth

Savannah police say Jeremy Scarth shot and killed Shaw outside Little Lucky’s Bar and Pub on Gateway Boulevard, off Highway 204, on Nov. 12 of last year.

Scarth faces a murder charge. A trial is scheduled for February.

Heroes in the Sky Foundation

Shaw co-founded Heroes in the Sky, a foundation honoring veterans and first responders lost to suicide.

His co-founder, James Collins, said the two became like brothers. Collins said he wants people to remember what Shaw did with the time he had.

“It’s, it’s, it’s what you do in that dash. It’s the people you impact and it’s, it’s what you leave behind that matters,” Collins said.