Friends and family gathered Friday evening to pay tribute to their “Ti-Jean,” who died Thursday after he was struck by a car in his sleepy Laval neighbourhood.

His 20-year-old ex-girlfriend Maria-Christina Umana was charged earlier in the day with armed assault causing death, criminal negligence causing death, and hit and run causing the death of 21-year-old Jean Housley St-Jean.

A handful of mourners, dressed casually, set down bouquets of flowers, candles, and a picture frame with four of photos of the young man on the sidewalk on Duschesneau St., not far from where his body was found.

It was a woman out on her morning jog who made the discovery around 7:30 a.m. Thursday, rushing into a nearby house to implore the neighbour to call for help.

St-Jean was unconscious and bleeding from his head. He was brought to a nearby hospital, where he died that afternoon.

Johanne Robinson lives on Duschesneau and her son went to school with St-Jean when they were younger. She said she doesn’t know the family well, but they were quiet people.

Robinson said her mother was home Thursday morning and was rattled after seeing St-Jean’s body on the street, and the ensuing crime scene as police descended upon their neighbourhood.

“Usually you see that on TV, or in a movie, but in real life in front of your door?” she said.

The case was originally a mystery to Laval police, but spokesperson Franco Di Genova said it was not long before police tracked down Umana, St-Jean’s on-again, off-again girlfriend.

"We had a name, the name confirmed this woman and she was arrested [Thursday] afternoon. She was located, she was arrested and her car was seized," said Di Genova.

Both families were at the Laval courthouse where Umana was arraigned Friday, and watched as the woman became extremely emotional when she was led out of the prisoner's box, crying and gripping the door frame. Guards had to forcibly take her away.

Relatives at the hearing said the former couple, who had known each other for years, had been arguing frequently in recent weeks.

But friends said in spite of their love life troubles, Umana was a nice girl. And St-Jean was described as a good friend, always there to help someone in need.

Umana is due in court next Tuesday to make an application for bail.