BLOOMINGTON - Hundreds of friends and family members gathered for a candlelight vigil Tuesday night to mourn a man fatally stabbed Saturday night in the 500 block of North Center Street. | Joshua Embry obituary

Police are continuing to investigate the death of Joshua Embry, 26, but no arrests had been made as of Tuesday night.

"It's been the worst thing I've gone through," said his father, Robert L. "Scrappy" Embry, shortly before the vigil began at the site of the stabbing. "I just wish more people would come forth with information."

Joshua Embry

Police cars blocked Center Street to accommodate the crowd. Bouquets of red roses were laid around a streetlight on a sidewalk near the Mulberry Street intersection.

Looking at the outpouring of support in the wake of his son's death, the father said, "Oh, it has just been phenomenal."

People holding candles in plastic cups stood in silent respect for a man affectionately known by the nickname "Chewy." Some people stood up to offer their testimonials.

"He was like a brother to me - I picture him on his motorcycle up in heaven," said a friend who identified himself as Stevie Wunder of Bloomington, speaking before the vigil.

Embry was a member of the McLean County chapter of the Outlaws motorcycle club. He also drove stock cars as a hobby and was engaged, according to obituary information provided Tuesday to The Pantagraph.

After a poem was read about the brotherhood of bikers, Embry was described by his friends as a man "who was watching a brother's back" at the time of his death.

Referring to the crowd, his tearful aunt, Kathy Roberts of Bloomington, said, "This isn't half the lives he's touched.

"It's such a blessing. It actually gives me some peace."

She said she'd seen Embry give money to people needing food for their children and his coat to someone who had none.

"He'd stop alongside the road" to help people, she said.

Friends Terry and Theresa Marlett Sr. recalled coffees and cookouts with Embry. "He's still gonna be there," Terry Marlett said before the vigil.

More than 50 people interviewed

On the day of the vigil, police said they were still trying to figure out what happened about 11:35 p.m. Saturday. They declined to say how or even whether the stabbing related to a fight involving up to 30 people that was reported at the time.

Police have interviewed at least 50 people in connection with case, said police spokesman Duane Moss.

The fight happened in front of Six Strings club, which has given police video from its outside surveillance cameras.

Moss declined to say whether police have a suspect in the stabbing in which a knife was used. He said the stabbing didn't appear to be random and was related to something apparently happening that night.

Six Strings co-owner Daniel Rolph said Monday he was unaware of any incident inside the tavern but was helping with the investigation.

The tavern was closed for business Tuesday, according to its Web site.

Members of Outlaw chapters from across the country have posted their condolences for "Chewy" on the organization's online guestbook.