KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Actor and singer Aaron Markarian, a University of Missouri at Kansas City senior who shot and killed at his off campus home this spring, would have graduated from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance on Saturday.
The stage is where great art is brought to life. Last March, one of those lives were cut short.
“It is a little hard knowing that voice will never be heard again,” said Brandon Haralson, a friend of Markarian’s.
Markarian was supposed to walk across the stage of the Kaufman Center for the Performing Arts on the UMKC campus one last time on Saturday morning.
“As great as today is, there’s a sadness there,” said Zoe Melcher, another Markarian friend.
Markarian’s mother accepted a posthumous diploma in her son’s honor.
Dale Morehouse, an associate professor of music at UMKC’s Conservatory of Music and Dance, was one of Markarian’s professors.
“He had basically finished everything and was just staying on for extra experience and training and you know was as deserving as anyone,” Morehouse told FOX 4 News.
UMKC also announced the creation of a scholarship in Markarian’s memory.
His classmates said it’s still hard to believe such a gifted and talented person is gone.
“We actually went and visited his grave site yesterday and I was saying, ‘I don’t understand why it happened’ and I still will never understand why somebody would choose to do that,” Melcher said.
His friends took one final bow for him during the university’s commencement ceremonies.
UMKC said Markarian was killed while he was hosting a post production party at his home. His roomates and friends were in attendance.
Anthony J. Williams, 21, and Alonzo D. Ruff, 20, are both charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of first-degree assault, one count of first-degree robbery and five counts of armed criminal action. Both men pleaded not guilty during their appearance in court on April 22.
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