Bradley Schmidt died the way he lived, friends and family said: fearlessly.

The 20-year-old from Roanoke was killed late Saturday or early Sunday in Manassas when he was apparently run over while trying to jump on a moving train, police said.

Schmidt's brother, Justin Schmidt, said the two had discussed the danger of train-hopping.

"He said, 'Well, that would be an awesome way to die,' " Justin Schmidt said. "He didn't have any fear of anything."

Bradley Schmidt had been traveling by train the past few weeks. He was trying to catch a Norfolk Southern Corp. train to Roanoke to see his mother when he died, said a friend, Josh Schwartz.

A passer-by found Schmidt's body along the train tracks Sunday about 11 a.m., said Sgt. Tim Neumann, a spokesman for the Manassas Police Department.

His body has been taken to the medical examiner's office in Manassas for an autopsy.

Back home, Schmidt's friends recalled how he would jump into mosh pits at punk and thrash metal music shows.

"He was fearless," Tara Hicks said. "Even if he got knocked down, he would always get back up."

He was known in punk and metal scenes as "Smalls," because of his small stature when he was younger.

Friends are planning a benefit show to help the Schmidt family with funeral expenses, but the details have not been finalized.

Staff writer Mason Adams and news researcher Belinda Harris contributed to this report.