SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - Dozens of Jacob Greenwald's friends, family and co-workers gathered long Campo Road Monday night to pay tribute to the beloved 20-year-old Spring Valley man, near the same location where Jacob suddenly lost his life early Sunday morning to a hit-and-run driver.
"He was so full of so much life," said family friend Deanna Rodgers. "It was incredible how much he really was a good kid to be around."
Braedan Breise had known Jacob since the first grade.
"He was one of the most kind people I've ever met," Breise told CBS News 8. "He kept a strong relationship with his true friends, and he never wronged anybody."
"Honestly -- I think we should just have him out here and have a turn at him," Rodgers said. "You leave a child dying in the street. What kind of a person do you have to be to do that?... You're not a person and you don't deserve to live. He doesn't deserve a trial; he doesn't deserve anything."
Minutes after he had left work at a nearby McDonald's, Greenwald, 20, was struck and killed by an SUV, which then sped off. The vehicle was later found, and the suspected driver arrested.
The crash happened early Sunday morning on Campo Road between North Granada and North Cordoba avenues.
Brenda Garcia has known Jacob Greenwald since 7th grade.
"He was always happy, he was always smiling. He always made everyone at work cheerful. You never see him down, he was always happy," she said.
She saw him just minutes before he was killed.
"He was like, yeah don't worry, I'll be home in 10 minutes. I was like, bye. And he was all happy leaving. I don't know, I still can't believe it," she said.
Jacob left his job at this McDonald's around 3:30 Sunday morning and was walking home - when a 2008 Toyota jumped the curb and slammed into him.
"If you've ever seen a vehicle versus pedestrian at a high speed, it's a pretty violent impact. You figure 150- to 160-pound pedestrian can do a lot of damage," CHP spokesman Kevin Pearlstein said.
Jacob was only a few blocks from his home when he was struck and killed. The driver sped away, but left behind a license plate that helped authorities quickly find him.
Jason Palmer, 33, was seen smirking moments after his arrest. He is now in jail facing several charges, including gross vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence. CBS News 8 has learned that Palmer just recently got out of prison following a DUI conviction last year.
"Honestly, I think we should just have him out here and have a turn at him," Rodgers said. "You leave a child dying in the street. What kind of a person do you have to be to do that? You're not a person and you don't deserve to live. He doesn't deserve a trial; he doesn't deserve anything. Jacob deserves complete justice for this."
Jacob's friends can't believe he's gone forever, all because someone else keeps making the same mistakes. They say Jacob deserved better.
"He was always kind to everyone, like anytime you saw him, he would do something for you or help you. That's just who he was, always smiling. That's who he was, nothing else," friend Berenice Montoya said.
Palmer is currently being held in the downtown jail. His bail is set at $1 million. He's scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday.