SUNSET BEACH — Dillon Ching was a peacemaker, and that's how he died, trying to stop a fight that had broken out near his Sunset Beach home Saturday night involving his brothers.

Family, friends and police are still trying to piece together the events that led to gunshots, one of which fatally struck Ching, 30, in the chest.

"Dillon was always the peace keeper," said his widow, Desiree Ching, 31. "He does not like violence at all, so what happened that night was what he would always do. He would protect his family."

Police yesterday said they are still investigating Ching's death and have no suspects.

The medical examiner's office listed the cause of death as "injury to the lung due to a gunshot wound to the upper chest."

Desiree Ching said she, her husband and 2 1/2-year-old son came home that night to find dozens of agitated people in the street near their Kamehameha Highway home. When they realized Dillon Ching's two brothers were involved, Dillon Ching jumped out of his truck and tried to stop the fray.

"Everything just happened so fast," she said, adding that her husband tried to push people apart to protect his brother.

After her husband was shot, Desiree Ching gave her son to a neighbor and went to her husband's side, but two men were trying to get at him to hit him even though he was on the ground.

"I got the brunt of their punches," she said.

Yesterday, family and friends gathered at Dillon Ching's home, where he lived with his father, William, wife and son. His mother and grandfather flew in from the Big Island.

Dillon Ching was shot in a vacant lot next to the family property, which has two homes and a fenced yard.

Yesterday, his blood stained the ground where he fell. Workers from HawaiianTel were repairing lines where one of the gunshots struck.

Red, yellow and white flowers decorated a memorial to Dillon Ching, who was a warehouse supervisor for CWR.

Before the killing, family and friends were gathered at the home of William Ching, who said another party was taking place across the street at the beach called Log Cabin. William Ching said he believes one member of his party, not a relative, got into a fight with someone from across the street. He said the guy was always spoiling for a fight when he drank.

"We never made trouble," William Ching said. "All we was doing was drinking over here, having our own party. Why did they come across the street?"

Billy Jack Ching, Dillon Ching's older brother, said 30 to 40 people swarmed across the street when a fight broke out between one of his friends and someone from the beach party. Billy Jack was on the ground badly beaten when he heard the shots.

"We was all drinking," Billy Jack Ching said. "Everybody came from over there and that was it. We couldn't do nothing. There was only six of us."

The irony of Dillon Ching's violent death was not lost on the family who said he never got in trouble, never reacted in a violent way and was always humble and smiling. He was a man people could count on, said Chandie Silva, a friend.

Desiree Ching said she'd like the gunman to turn himself in so her son can have closure and so she can understand why.

"I just want to know why or how anybody can just pull out a gun and shoot so senselessly," she said.

William Ching said he'll always remember his son's smile.

"I can yell and scream at him and you know what he does to me? He smiles," William Ching said.

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.