Vigil held for a 17-year-old student who collapsed and died at his high school in Detroit

DETROIT (WXYZ) - Football players were barely able to talk through their tears, but they let the few hundred people who gathered around them on the football field at Martin Luther King Jr. High School know how much they loved 17-year-old Toron Murphy Jr. who collapsed and died at school on Tuesday.

It happened as Toron was walking into school. His dad says the cause is still not known. What is known though is how much this young man was loved.

In the bitter cold, family, friends, teachers and the school principal stood out on the football field with the football players and listened to the band play. They also listened to a pastor pray and then watched as dozens of balloons were released into the night sky.

They were gold and black for the school colors and green which was Toron's favorite.

"He made us smile," said one friend and another through tears said: "I will miss my man, I don't know what to do,"

His girlfriend said, "I loved him and everyone knew it, but I will be strong for him."

"This is wonderful, it fills my heart, but it hurts it hurts," said Toron's grandmother. 

Toron's funeral will be next Friday at the Church of the Messiah on Lafayette and Grand Boulevard at 11 a.m.  Visitation will also be at the church on Thursday from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.