Duo Sentenced to Life in Prison for New Bedford Murder

FALL RIVER — Two New Bedford men who were convicted late Wednesday afternoon for the 2015 New Year’s Eve murder of 24-year-old Aaron Gant Jr. were sentenced this morning to life in prison with no possibility of parole, Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III announced.

The defendants, Aaron Bookman, 25, and Angel Acevedo, 26, were in a rented car from a dealership in Maine when six shots were fired from inside the vehicle at Gant around 7:15 p.m. on December 31, 2015, on Grinnell Street near the intersection of Pleasant Street. During the trial, it was revealed the motive for the killing was gang-related retaliation.

The jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning its verdict late yesterday afternoon, finding both defendants guilty of first degree murder and guilty of carrying an illegal firearm. The jury also convicted Bookman of additional charges of possessing an illegal firearm, and possessing ammunition without an FID Card.

The trial, which was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney William McCauley and Assistant District Attorney Robert Digiantomaso, lasted for about four weeks.

This morning, Judge Renee Dupuis sentenced both defendants to life in prison with no possibility of parole. She also sentenced both defendants to a five year state prison sentence for the carrying an illegal firearm charge. Bookman was also sentenced to two years in the House of Corrections for his additional charges. All added sentences will run concurrently to the lifetime state prison term.

“I would like to thank the jury for its verdict in this case that was well supported by the evidence. I also want to thank the prosecutors and investigators for their sacrifices and tenacity during this entire process,” District Attorney Quinn said. “This case highlights the critical importance of video surveillance and forensic evidence in solving these types of cases. This technology was vital to establishing that these two defendants were responsible for the killing. Surveillance footage from the scene also helped to undermine witnesses’ testimony who were uncooperative at trial.”

--Bristol County District Attorney's Office