(Daniel Hollis/Caring.org)
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — A vigil was held Thursday for the Emerson College student who died Wednesday evening following an altercation over the weekend—and Boston Police say they're now investigating his death as a homicide.
Daniel Hollis, 19, died after suffering a severe head injury during an altercation near Park Vale Avenue in the city’s Allston-Brighton neighborhood around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
Following that fight, Hollis underwent emergency surgery, but the brain damage was “irreparable,” according to Emerson College.
Hollis was a Communications major and a goalie on the school’s lacrosse team.
He was remembered Thursday afternoon in a community vigil led by Rev. Avis Rogers at the college's Semel Theater.
Emerson President Lee Pelton said it was a deeply emotional gathering.
"I talked about why Dan in particular, his circumstances, why that had such an impact on our community, and one of course was Dan himself, and that wonderful, beautiful smile he had," Pelton said. "This is a young man who was chock full of life. He loved life, and life loved him."
Hollis's high school coach Eric Moxim, brought members of his current team to the vigil.
"If you spent eight minutes with him, you knew who he was," Moxim said. "There's no difference between knowing him his whole life and meeting him at a coffee shop. We're all missing a beautiful young man."
Friends, classmates, and faculty at Emerson College said that Hollis was someone they looked forward to seeing.
Professor Fredricka King said she remembers Hollis’ “special bright smile—almost a surprise—and his lovely eyes.”
Students told WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville the mystery around Hollis's death was unsettling.
Anyone with information about the assault is asked to contact Boston Police at (617) 343-4470.
WBZ NewsRadio's Suzanne Sausville (@wbzSausville) reports
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