Vigil for Young Hate Crime Victim

While FBI is still reviewing whether or not to classify the murder of 20 year-old Sean Kennedy as a hate crime, hundreds of Greenville residents held a vigil in the young man's honor Sunday.

Sean William Kennedy was leaving Brew's Bar in Greenville County, South Carolina, when a car pulled up next to him. Deputies believe 18 year old Stephen Andrew Moller jumped out of the car, punched Kennedy, and then took off.

Kennedy fell to the ground, and probably hit his head on the parking lot pavement or a curb. Kennedy died from his injuries less than 24 hours later.

Sean's mother, Elke Kennedy, spoke at the vigil, saying "Sean was very proud of who he was. Sean loved life. He embraced people. He was compassionate, and he’s done so much. I couldn’t stay mad at him very long, if you look at his smile. All he had to do was smile at me."

"When Sean told me he was gay, he said, "Mom if you don't want to love me anymore, that's okay." And I looked at him and said, "I will never stop loving you no matter what you do." I was proud of him for who he was and for standing up for what he believed in," Kennedy said.

Elke Kennedy and her family have started a non-profit foundation in her son's memory. The foundation, called Sean's Last Wish, aims to change South Carolina's hate crime laws, which doesn't include gays.