Jared Glenn's happy, outgoing personality resonated with everyone he met, whether it was a longtime friend or someone he helped at the grocery store where he had worked.

"He's just like a ray of sunshine," said Maria Burns of Roseville, who said she knew Glenn for about 15 years and he was like a part of her family.

"Jared put the 'gentle' in gentleman — he was just a gift to everyone who knew him," said another longtime friend, Terry Monkaba.

This week, shock and sadness are felt by many who knew the 34-year-old Roseville resident, who died Tuesday, three days after being shot in the head by a gunman who opened fire early Saturday on patrons at an Eastpointe bar. Police said five other people were wounded.

Burns said she wasn't at Last Call Bar on East 10 Mile Road when the shooting occurred, but she learned from those who were there that Glenn ran out to help a female friend when he was shot. She said he "died doing what he does best, trying to be there for his friends."

Glenn died at St. John Hospital in Detroit.

Following Glenn's death, the alleged shooter, Lenny Whitfield, 47, of Detroit, was arraigned Wednesday in 38th District Court on a first-degree murder charge, which carries mandatory life in prison. That's in addition to multiple counts of assault with intent to murder and felony firearms that Whitfield had been arraigned on Tuesday.

Whitfield is accused of getting a 40-caliber handgun from underneath the hood of an Infiniti SUV after being kicked out of the bar, walking back toward the entrance and opening fire on bar patrons, authorities said.

More:Prosecutor: Handgun stashed under SUV hood used in Eastpointe bar shooting that injured 6

Burns said that Glenn for years had worked at a Kroger in Roseville, where he bagged groceries and helped pushed carts to customers' vehicles, helping the elderly and others. She said he currently had worked at local restaurant.

"He's just an all-around genuine, happy-go-lucky guy," Burns said. "Always excited ... he was the life of the party."

Deana Wolgast of Roseville, who with Burns organized a vigil after the shooting occurred, said she has known Glenn for about six years. She said "the list of nice things I could say about him would go on for miles or quite possibly would end up being never ending."

Wolgast said in an email that he was sweet, kind and "always there for all of his friends. He had a smile that could light up any room and he would do anything to make you smile. His zest for life was contagious."

"We are so saddened to hear about the loss of our great associate," a spokeswoman for Kroger said. "Our hearts go out to his family and we wish them peace during this time. He will be greatly missed.”

Glenn had Williams Syndrome, a genetic condition characterized by problems including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays and learning challenges. These often occur side-by-side with striking verbal abilities, highly social personalities and an affinity for music, according to the Williams Syndrome Association.

"Although he had a disability, that didn't stop him," Wolgast said. "He saw it as a a blessing that made him the type of person he was and he was such a blessing to me and the world."

Wolgast said she wishes she could be half the person Glenn was and wished everyone had his attributes.

"The world would be a much better place. The world is a much darker place without him in it and I would give anything to see that face or get one of his world-famous hugs again," she wrote. "He will be terribly missed by so many."

Monkaba, who is the executive director of the Williams Syndrome Association in Troy, said she has known Glenn since he was a teenager. She said he traveled with her and her staff in an adult travel group and was a close friend to them all.

Monkaba said an enduring and friendly personality is a trait of Williams Syndrome, which affects one in 10,000 people. And Glenn, she said, had that personality "in spades."

She said Glenn decided on his own several years ago to be an organ donor.

"It was just very amazing — in face of that tragedy, he was able to do that," she said.

Monkaba said Glenn donated tissue and organs, with his heart being donated to cardiovascular research. She said some people with Williams Syndrome have cardiovascular issues, and Glenn's heart donation will go to help uncover the mysteries related to that.

"He'll make a difference — with all the people's lives he saved," Monkaba said.

On Glenn's Facebook page — which had more than 1,000 comments — it was written: "When people say someone was the nicest guy ever, they’re normally exaggerating: in Jared’s case it’s 100% the truth."

In addition to Glenn, a woman was shot three times, and Eastpointe Police believed that at least one of the bullets struck multiple people.

A man struck in the leg with a bullet refused to provide police his name, refused medical treatment and left the scene of the crime prior to the investigation being concluded, said Derek Miller, chief of operations for the prosecutor's office.

Police and prosecutors said Whitfield had been escorted out of the bar near closing time. When he returned carrying a beer and was told he could not enter, he got into a fight with the bar's bouncers. He came back firing about 15 minutes later.

Police tracked down the Infiniti SUV to a home in Detroit and arrested Whitfield without incident after a search of the home, and seized his SUV. Police also found a handgun that was the same caliber as bullet casings recovered from outside the bar.

A candlelight ceremony honoring Glenn is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Fishbones Rhythm Kitchen Cafe in St. Clair Shores, according to a Facebook event page.

Donations in Glenn's memory are being accepted in support of the Williams Syndrome Association.

Jeanette Pierce, a family friend who has known Glenn since he was a year old, said he truly "was the nicest person. He really did remember people, care about people. You couldn't really not smile when he smiled at you."

Pierce, of Detroit, said she couldn't speak to what transpired at the bar, but said: "It certainly wouldn't be surprising at all if (Glenn) was injured helping somebody. That would be a very Jared thing."

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Contact Christina Hall: chall@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @challreporter.