CLEARWATER, Fla. — Dozens gathered at a Clearwater park Thursday evening to celebrate Markeis McGlockton's birthday. He would have been 29 today.

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It was a joint birthday celebration for both McGlockton and his one-year-old son, Marshawn, who was born on the same day. 

But it was bittersweet for most of the people who showed up to Ed C. Wright Park in Clearwater because McGlockton wasn’t there to experience it himself.

McGlockton was shot and killed in a controversial shooting that Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri originally called a stand-your-ground case. Michael Drejka, the alleged shooter, argues he was acting in self-defense after an argument over a parking spot.

At the celebration Thursday, McGlockton’s mother Monica read a poem for her son, who everyone at the gathering described as a good guy and family man.

McGlockton's father, Michael, talked about what it was like, watching the butterfly release, the candlelight tribute and dozens of people gather for his son, who didn’t live to see his 29th birthday.

“In a way, it’s tough because he’s not here, but at the same time its good that everybody would come out here and still keep his name alive,” Michael said. "Let's just keep this thing going until we take it to trial.”

Some of McGlockton's loved ones were brought to tears while the crowd sang "Happy Birthday" and cut the cake that had both father and son’s names on it. 

“It means a lot to us, because his father is not forgotten and the kids are not forgotten either by the community,” said McGlockton’s brother-in-law, Andre Danford.

Michael Drejka will stand trial for manslaughter charges in this case later this year. McGlockton’s family, friends, and supporters say they just want justice.