BROCKTON, Mass. — Balloons were released by dozens of friends and family in memory of Christopher Gomes on Friday.
The 28-year-old Gomes was shot and killed Thursday on Taber Avenue.
“I didn’t want to see him go out like that or anybody,” said Danilton Livramento, who is Gomes’ older brother.
His death led to a 911 call where responding Brockton Police Officer Robert Otis was shot four times. Luckily, his injuries were non-fatal and Otis walked out of the hospital on his own Friday.
Back on Taber Avenue on Friday night, friends and family of Gomes want to know why he was killed.
“I’m baffled. I don’t even know what happened,” said Manny Roasario, who is Gomes’ brother-in-law.
People who came to honor Gomes said soccer was his passion and he played for teams in Rhode Island and in Brockton.
“He loves soccer. He loved his family,” said Rosario.
Grief-stricken family consoled each other as they gathered for a candlelight vigil.
“Chris was just my luck little brother, a very loving kid. He just treated everybody very well, very respectful and that’s what I want him to be remembered as,” said Livramento.
Many of the people who turned out said Gomes was kind to a fault.
“We all want to remember him the way we knew him, as kind and kindhearted as he was,” said a friend who did not want to be identified.
And all just want to know why his young life was suddenly taken.
“It’s not normal, for you to do that to a human being,” said Livramento.
It’s remains unclear what led up to the shooting of Gomes. Police continue to investigate as his family waits for answers.
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