Community Activist Discusses Gant Killing

New Bedford Police are investigating the New Year's Eve shooting death of 24-year-old Aaron Gant Junior and those who knew him are speaking out about the life he lead.

Community activist John "Buddy" Andrade told WBSM's Brian Thomas that Gant was involved in many iniatives that made positive contributions to the community.

Andrade says on the night of the shooting he was hanging out with his friend and just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

"He wasn't with the so-called 'the wrong people', he was with his friends, but he was in the wrong place at the wrong time period," said Andrade.

Andrade said Gant tried to follow the straight path and make positive contributions to the community even though some of those around him didn't follow his example.

"When I say this was a nice kid, trust me, this was a nice kid," said Andrade "he lived here, his friends some have been in trouble some haven't, some go to bed early some don't, this was the way he lived," said Andrade.

Andrade also said more needs to be done to help and protect kids who are trying to stay on the right path.

"We have to find a way to break the cycle," said Andrade "when these young people are trying to do the right thing, want to go to college, want to have a family, want to have a career."

Old Bedford Village is planning to hold a vigil in gants memory that is tenatively scheduled for Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Monte's Park.

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call the New Bedford Police Department's anonymous tip line at 508-961-4584.