Donogue spent the last years of his life living on the streets of Springfield. But even though he didn't have a place to call his home, he had a family of hundreds.

"It shows that he had a big family, even though his own family didn't pay a lot of attention to him, he had his own family," says friend Margarita Rivera. "They weren't blood, but they were his family from the streets."

Police say Michael Forte stabbed Donogue to death in the early hours on July 27. Those who spoke at Donogue's memorial say now that an arrest has been made, they can put this tragedy behind them.

"The guy is getting his forgiveness by being put in jail," says Rivera. "So he can not harm anybody anymore."

A forgiveness those who counseled Stephen for his problems with alcohol hope will spread. Many believe his death will motivate others living on the street to make a change in their life, and motivate the community at large to stop tolerating violence against victims of all kinds.

"I think this will really motivate people to get off the streets, get sober and really work towards that," says Rivera.

"There's no reason for Stephen to have been on the streets at three in the morning," says Pastor Jack Desroches. "The city is working very hard to change that and people are sitting up and saying, 'Something must be done.'"