Spontaneous public death shrines

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a couple of links I found - I'm sure everyone can find more - http://www.temple.edu/isllc/newFolk/shrines.html http://www.clal.org/coc32.html Here in the United States, though I read that the practice had spread to Europe, when a person dies in a public place, a shrine of sorts is created within a day or two close to the scene of the incident. If the victim was a child, the objects left at the site may include teddy bears or other toys. But universally, there are flowers and candles. Crosses are also prevalent. It is a public display of mourning where all in the community may participate. A few blocks from me is a convenience store where last Sunday, the police was called about a domestic violence case in the parking lot. An officer came, spoke to the woman in the driver's seat. The man on the other side got out, and shot the officer, who was protected with a bullet proof vest. She returned fire, and the man was dead on the scene. Next day or two, on the sidewalk where a streetlight is, on the streetlight and around it were candles and flowers. But what is confusing me at the moment, is among the candles and flowers ... ... are empty beer bottles. They are not carelessly discarded around the area, they are neatly arranged with all the other offerings. Now I know there are some cultures that leave food for the dead, but I never heard of leaving empty containers of any sort at these kinds of things. Offer to share, yes, but to just leave empty bottles at such a shrine? "Here, I drank all the beer in your honor. Here's the bottle to prove it." -- I can't help but think the dead person saying, "Thanks a lot ..." Would those in other cultures who do share food with the dead care to contribute? Thank you.