Rain fell softly on the backs of hundreds of people Thursday night during a vigil to honor three teenagers fatally shot inside an SUV late Wednesday night.

The candles they held shone bright.

“I think everybody’s still in shock,” said Brian Sheppard, the cousin of one of the teens.

Friends and family remembered the three teenagers gunned down late Wednesday night on the 5200 block of Mira Loma Circle as “caring” and “amazing” during the vigil at Russell Middle School. As the vigil took place, dozens of police swarmed two houses less than a mile away in search of the man suspected of killing the teens.

Austin Howse, 16, and brothers Wayne Fix, 19, and Aaron Fix, 16 were killed in an SUV after neighbors heard several gunshots on Mira Loma Circle. Police later said that Michael Arangio, 24, is suspected of killing the teens.

Among the slew of comments on the Facebook.com event page, mourners expressed plans to attend the vigil wearing red and green, the teenagers’ favorite colors. One commenter said though she hardly knew the three, she plans to attend. Others who cannot attend asked that a candle be lit for them. More than 1,000 people have been invited on the page.

Aaron Fix went to Palmer High School, said a friend Christina Cisneros, and Austin Howse went to Doherty High School, according to commenters on Facebook.com.

Cisneros, 17, said she was shocked when she heard the news this morning, saying the shooting was “completely unexpected.”

She said Aaron Fix wasn’t the type to hold grudges and never talked bad about anyone.

“He was a great kid and people shouldn’t judge him due to what happened. I know a lot of rumors are going to stir up about this. He wasn’t a bad kid,” Cisneros said.

Daniel Quick, also a close friend of Aaron Fix, said Fix was always smiling and laughing, and he was a great person to everyone.

“He did awesome in school, always had good grades. He was always happy and making others laugh and just having a good time, no matter what,” Quick said in an email. “All in all, he was a great kid.”

Mariah Justice, a friend of Aaron Fix and Howse since sixth grade, sat next to Fix in a math class and remembers passing funny notes.

“We used to pick on each other all the time, but it was fun. He could make anyone laugh, and make things better,” Justice said in an email. “I wish I had gotten to know him even better. He was incredible. He will be missed so much.”

Justice said Howse was always “funny and nice.”

At the vigil, the Fix brothers’ father wept as onlookers lifted candles to their memory.

“All three had a talent to resolve things without creating another problem,” Rich Fix said.

Three balloons — two red ones for the Fix brothers, a white one for Austin Howse — then floated into the air as many in the crowd wept.

Rick Fix, father of the Fix brothers, receives a hug before a vigil at Russell Middle School for Austin Howse, 16, and brothers Wayne Fix, 19, and Aaron Fix, 16 who were gunned down Wednesday night. Photo by CHRISTIAN MURDOCK, THE GAZETTE

Students mourn during a candlelight vigil for Austin Howse and Wayne and Aaron fix Thursday, July 28 at Russell Middle School. Photo by GENNA ORD, THE GAZETTE

Victoria Nedd, left, comforts Briana Stusik during the vigil held for teenagers Austin Howse and brothers Wayne and Aaron Fix Thursday, July 28, 2011. Both girls knew and attended school with Aaron and Austin. Photo by GENNA ORD, THE GAZETTE