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‘He was one of a kind,’ community mourning young Austin explosion victim marches for peace

'And I know he would not like us crying or feeling that his loss was just a loss and that there wasn't anything more from it,' one person who marched in the 'March for Peace' event said.

Three bombings have thrust Austin into the national spotlight this week.

With a potential killer on the loose, Austin police have yet to identify any suspects or leads. Two people -- 17-year-old Draylen Mason and 39-year-old Anthony Stephan House -- were killed, and one woman -- identified as 75-year-old Esperanza "Hope" Herrera -- is still hospitalized.

That uncertainty is prompting many Austin families to send a message of peace in spite of this faceless threat. Friday evening, KVUE's Molly Oak marched alongside both those who knew Mason and those in the community who wished to show solidarity.

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Friday's march was meant to help with the healing process and remember the three victims affected by the explosions.

"It was overwhelming but it was very great knowing that I'm not in this pain alone," one marcher said.

The group started walking from Mason's high school, East Austin College Prep.

"He was more than unique," one member of the march said. "Eccentric. He was one of a kind. He was able to make friends with everyone."

They walked through his neighborhood.

"Even if I don't know the other person, it's an automatic connection because we both got to know someone amazing that brought us together even after his life," one person who walked said.

One person at the march said Mason would say to "smile or dance or sing or break into a song" instead of mourning him.

"And I know he would not like us crying or feeling that his loss was just a loss and that there wasn't anything more from it," another marcher said.

How Mason lived -- not how he died -- is what this community will remember.

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