Back in January friends and family of bison community took to social media with reports of Robert Lawrence, a recent Howard University Graduate was missing. Police from the 114th Precinct in Astoria were put notice of him last seen Wednesday, Jan. 3, leaving his Main Street home at 7 p.m., according to the NYPD. The 2012 graduate was said to have been working as a front desk administrator for VOICE Charter School in Long Island City before he went missing, according to multiple Facebook posters who shared his missing poster. In another public Facebook post, Nancy Rodriguez called Lawrence "a great sweet man with a great smile and personality."

Today, those same students and Alumni have began to mourn his death after receiving notice from his mother, Keisha Lawrence.

Rob is a loving son and brother and he was enthusiastic about life, charismatic, kind and creative. He is funny too.

He is my only son and this is such a traumatic and devastating loss.

In lieu of receiving flowers we have set up this memorial fundraiser. Rob did not like flowers and he would go out of his way to give me any gift except flowers to say thank you or I love. The funds we are raising will be used to defray the cost of the memorial services and to make a donation towards suicide prevention.

We appreciate your offerings as soon as possible.

Thank you for all of your love and support during this difficult time.

Keisha Lawrence, Mom