Nearly 50 relatives and friends gathered on the 1400 block of North Felton on Monday night where they remembered 21-year-old Christian Massey.
"I lost my brother, my favorite brother, over something dumb," sister Deana Watkins said.
"It was dumb. He had just bought the headphones. He had bought them that Friday," grandmother Eula Hodge said.
Investigators say Massey was leaving a friend's house Saturday evening when he was approached in the alley on the 5800 block of Lebanon.
The suspect demanded Massey hand over his iPhone and headphones. A struggle ensued and Massey was shot in the chest.
Police drove him to the hospital and while doing so, Massey told them them what happened.
The headphones are called Beats; the company was founded by rap artist Dr. Dre.
According to Best Buy, the headphones are the retail store's best seller in Philadelphia.
"He always tells me when he left, 'Grandma, I'll be back,' and I'd say 'Okay then.' He always came back and now he ain't going to come back," Hodge said.
Relatives say Massey is a graduate of Marple Newtown High School where he played lacrosse, basketball, and football.
Many of his former classmates and coaches attended the vigil and were heartbroken by his death.
"He was a big brawny guy, but he was like a teddy bear. He was so compassionate and fun loving," former coach Gene Delaney said.
Police have no suspects at this time.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia Police at 215-686-TIPS (8477), text a tip to PPD TIP (773847) or through PhillyPolice.com.
Though the homicide rate is down, Massey is the 226th person killed in Philadelphia this year.
