BUFFALO, N.Y. — Members of the Buffalo community are mourning the loss of a man who died during a confrontation with police over the weekend.

The Buffalo Police Department says Edward Holmes was holding a shotgun when they responded to Reed Street, in East Buffalo, on Saturday. The Buffalo police commissioner says officers only opened fire after Holmes shot first. Officials say the original 911 call came from Holmes' phone number and body cam footage will be released in the coming weeks while both officers who fired their weapons are on administrative leave.

Members of Holmes' family say they are far from satisfied with what they've gotten from BPD. A vigil was held for Holmes Sunday night on the same road he was shot and killed. 

"Thank you," said Lakia Holmes, Ed's daughter. "From us, his family to everybody out here, thank you all for coming out and supporting my dad."

"I just want to call down Heaven's angels to assemble and be around us right now," said a pastor who helped kick off the ceremony.

For the East side of Buffalo, Ed Holmes is a name that won't be forgotten.

"He was a good-hearted person," said Ed's niece Keanya Willis. 

"Listen, the voicemails my dad left me all night, I couldn't get no sleep and this hurts like my dad laying down on live on to me," said Ed's son Edward Holmes Jr.

"He didn't deserve it. He wasn't that type of person," Lakia added.

As much as a large family and community can gather to celebrate the "concrete cowboy" that Ed was, much of the vigil focused on frustrations that boil beyond Western New York streets.

"We keep getting denied justice. Seventeen gunshots for what?" exclaimed Myles Carter, who helped organize the vigil. "Because we are done with this. This is crazy -- again and again."

Speaking with family members about the details that emerged from early into a Saturday investigation, things aren't adding up for them fast enough.

"We demand answers. This is not going to be something that's going to get swept under the rug," Lakia said. "We are not going to let this go and we are not going to let you tell us what you think we want to hear. That's not what's going to happen. You all let the Tops assailant walk out of Tops with a gun, with his life, but my dad got 30 seconds. So we are not going to be quiet about my father, Edward Langston Holmes Sr."

The questions mounted and were delivered bluntly.

"My dad was a loving person. He has so many people in his neighborhood that know him, love him all around the world, honestly," said Ed's daughter Shawanna. "So I need you to tell me why — why did you all do this to my father?"

"God has the answer. God is the only one that's going to make this thing work out in your favor," another community organizer echoed.

The next steps will be crucial as the mourning process continues and calls to action increase.

"You look at this big crowd down here. We are some beautiful people. You think he can stand for this?" asked Willis.

"I don't want your support to leave today," said Ed's sister Kawanna. "I hope that you guys continue to support us, his children, his grandchildren, nieces, nephews in the family."

The family has asked for time to grieve and to demand answers. Buffalo Police say they aim to release body cam footage and information as soon as possible.