Family speaks out after 21-year-old Juan Bernal shot and killed at Kern Park

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MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Police are still searching for suspects in a Memorial Day shooting that left a 21-year-old dead.

The family of Juan Bernal is sharing more about the victim.

"He wanted more than this," cried Juan's girlfriend, Celina De León.

The 21-year-old worked giving poetry workshops for all ages, and his family says he helped many people learn how to express themselves.

Juan Bernal was a poet, a rapper, a teacher and a mentor, and his family is finding out how much he touched the lives of others.

"This is really a loss not even just for our family, but for a whole community of people. There are people reaching out to me from different states who know of Juan from his poetry slams he competed in, and children he mentored..." said Aly Bernal, Juan's Cousin.

"If he opened the door for you just keep living his memory on. Like they say: to know Juan is to love Juan. He was like the best person in every stage of your life. He was always happy for you, even if you didn't have anything to be happy about" said De León.

Aly Bernal grew up with Juan. She says her favorite memory is spending summers with Juan. They would go to Pizza Shuttle and get ice cream, then walk around the east side. In losing Juan, she's lost her shoulder to cry on.

"He was always there to console me, to talk to me, to get me in the right frame of mind, and now I really just feel lost because this is someone who was always there," said Bernal.

Instead of having ill wishes for the people responsible, Bernal is concentrating on her memories with her cousin and best friend.

"I understand there's a reason why this had to happen, and karma is nothing to play with so whatever they've done not even to my cousin but life in general, that's going to come on them, and when it does I don't feel remorse. I'm at a loss for words," said Bernal.

If you know anything about what happened to Juan, you're asked to call police.

The family has set up a go fund me page for funeral expenses.

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