DAYTON – A prayer vigil for a young man who died July 16 while in police custody erupted into anger and hostility Sunday as members of Kylen English’s family raged against police and the religious leaders in attendance.

About 150 people met on the Salem Avenue bridge, from which police say English, 20, jumped to his death after breaking out of a police cruiser. They were led in prayer by Christian, Jewish and Muslim spiritual leaders, who called for understanding and healing without pointing fingers of blame.

As the 30-minute vigil neared its end, English’s brother, Robbie, began raging and was led away by friends. He returned minutes later and took up the microphone that had been used for prayers, accusing religious leaders of making English’s death “political.”

“How can there be peace?” he asked. “There can be no peace unless the English family is satisfied with the way he died.”

Eric Gary, who identified himself as English’s uncle, said the family wasn’t consulted about the vigil and found it “appalling and insulting.”

Gary called for the resignation of Police Chief Richard Biehl, who was a Cincinnati police official during that city’s 2001 riots and was widely credited with promoting racial healing in its aftermath.

The Montgomery County coroner’s office has ruled English’s death a suicide, but family members and others have accused police of misconduct, and the FBI is conducting a civil rights investigation.

Sheriff Phil Plummer, who attended the vigil in uniform, said he understands that emotions are running high, but he urged calm while investigations continue.

“People are hurting,” he said, but, “we just need to let the system run its course.”