Photos: Prince's fans mourn the loss of a hometown legend


Flowers for Prince
1 Flowers sit at the fence outside of Paisley Park in memory of Prince in Chanhassen, Minn. 
A fan touched Prince's star on the wall.
2 After kissing his fingers, a fan touched Prince's star on the wall of First Avenue on Thursday. 
Sherry Staat, a longtime fan from Eden Prairie
3 Sherry Staat, a longtime fan from Eden Prairie, said she drives past Paisley Park every day. Her grandson texted her the news from high school, so she came to Prince's recording studio. 
People of many ages place flowers.
4 People of many ages place flowers at the fence outside of Paisley Park. 
Steve Rognoud of Maple Grove
5 Steve Rognoud, of Maple Grove, drove to Paisley Park when he heard the news of Prince's passing. Rognoud said it has been a hard spring, with the passing of many of his musical idols, including David Bowie and Merle Haggard. 
KMOJ hosts Walter Q Bear Banks and Shed G
6 KMOJ afternoon drive-time show host Walter Q Bear Banks, left, and Shed G embraced each other as they talked about the death of Prince Thursday. Banks, a long-time resident of Minneapolis, grew up with Prince. 
A woman who only gave her name as Vera weeps.
7 A woman who only gave her name as Vera weeps at Paisley Park. 
A fan grieves outside First Ave.,
8 A fan grieves outside First Avenue. 
Sue Brown, from Eden Prairie
9 Sue Brown, from Eden Prairie, reacts to the news of Prince's death. 
Mourning outside Paisley Park
10 A woman wept outside Paisley Park in Chanhassen. 
Marianna Miller and Gary Laughlin
11 Marianna Miller and Gary Laughlin outside Paisley Park. 
Christopher LaCroix of Minneapolis
12 Christopher LaCroix of Minneapolis leaves a guitar near Prince's star at First Avenue in Minneapolis. "It's his now," he said. 
Rachel Hager, of south Minneapolis
13 Rachel Hager, of south Minneapolis, heard the news and drove to Paisley Park. Hager said her first musical love was Prince, after seeing "Purple Rain" at age 8. 
Flowers for Prince outside Paisley Park
14 A man put flowers outside the fence of Paisley Park in memory of Prince. 
Two women hug outside of the memorial.
15 Two women hug outside of the memorial at Paisley Park the day of Prince's death. The women on the left helped secure the fence and welcomed people who brought flowers to the memorial. 
Brock Dombrouski, BluEdge Pictures
16 Brock Dombrouski, director/owner at BluEdge Pictures, was on his way to the state Capitol to support Snowbate, which supports tax incentives for film and television, when he got a call from someone that told him of Prince's passing. He then came straight to Paisley Park instead. 
Tyka Nelson, Prince's sister, thanks his fans.
17 Tyka Nelson holds a rose outside Paisley Park, her brother's home in Chanhassen. Nelson went out to thank fans who gathered to mourn the loss of the music star who died Thursday. 
Christopher LaCroix takes a selfie at the memorial
18 Minneapolis resident Christopher LaCroix, 36, takes a selfie in front of the memorial set beneath Prince's star on the side of First Ave. 
Sarah Lee brought her son to the memorial.
19 Sarah Lee brought her 13-month-old son to the memorial to Prince in downtown Minneapolis. 
A fan takes a photo of a flower.
20 A fan takes a photo of a flower at the impromptu memorial to Prince. 
A mourner places a bouquet of flowers at First Ave
21 A mourner places a bouquet of flowers. Prince helped make First Ave. by playing many shows there, and featuring it in his film, "Purple Rain." 
A guitar for Prince.
22 A fan left a guitar as a memorial to Prince outside of First Ave. nightclub. 
Cederic Riley takes a selfie with Prince's star.
23 Cederic Riley takes a selfie with Prince's star. 
Purple tributes
24 A tribute of flowers outside of First Ave., below Prince's star. 
Fans of Prince gather outside of First Ave.
25 Fans of Prince gather outside of the First Ave. nightclub in the afternoon. 
A rainbow appears over Paisley Park.
26 A rainbow appears over Paisley Park near a memorial for Prince.