'We will truly miss him': Family remembers youngest victim of May 1 shooting

BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WKRG) — It has now been nearly two weeks since a mass shooting at a May Day celebration in Stockton that took the lives of three people and injured 15 others.

The three victims are Chiquita Ewing, Christian Bradley and Michael Anderson Jr.

Michael Anderson was the youngest of the three victims to die; he was only 19 years old. On Friday, his family gathered and honored his life.

Paulena Anderson is Michael's aunt. She said she was at home when she received the call that broke her heart.

“My heart broke and I was just numb praying it wasn’t him,” Paulena said.

He is remembered as the man of the party, full of kindness and love.

“He was a popular guy,” Paulen said. “They called him Baby Joe, and he was Baby Joe.”

Baby Joe leaves behind his 4 month old baby.

Paulena said News 5 that during his 19 years of life, Michael spent most of his time battling bone cancer. He had to miss school to get better. But he was still suffering from cancer when he died.

“He took a pill every day; it was like a chemotherapy pill,” Paulena said.

Anderson was scheduled to graduate this year and join Baldwin County High School's class of 2024. But instead, Anderson's memory will live on in the hearts of his family and friends.

“We will really miss him,” Paulena said.