Two Men Indicted for Previously Unsolved New Years Eve New Bedford Murder

Bristol County District Attorney’s Office

Thomas M. Quinn III

District Attorney

Press Release

April 6, 2016

Bristol County District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III today announced two indictments connected to the previously unsolved December 31, 2015 murder of Aaron Gant Jr. in New Bedford.

A Bristol County Grand Jury yesterday afternoon indicted Aaron Bookman, 23, and Angel Acevedo, 24, both of New Bedford, on charges of murder, carrying an illegal firearm and assault and battery by means of a firearm. Both men were arrested in January on lesser charges connected to the ongoing investigation and remain in custody at this time.

Arraignment dates for the new murder indictments have yet to be scheduled by the court.

Mr. Gant, 24, of New Bedford, was shot on Grinnell Street near the intersection to Pleasant Street around 7:10 p.m. on December 31.

Mr. Gant, the victim of a gunshot wound, arrived at St. Luke’s Hospital around 7:20 p.m. after being driven there in a private vehicle. Mr. Gant was declared deceased shortly after arriving at the hospital.

The investigation was coordinated by Assistant District Attorney Katie Rayburn, who is the Deputy Chief of District Attorney Quinn’s Homicide Unit, and was conducted by New Bedford Police Detectives and Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to this office.

With today’s indictment announcement, the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office has now solved all nine homicides that occurred within the county in 2015.

Gregg Miliote

Director of Communications

508-997-0711

774-292-9576—cell