On a tragic evening in Brockton, Massachusetts, the life of Anthony Baker, a 21-year-old Black / African American male, was cut short. The date was June 8, 2018, and what should have been a joyous time for his family turned into a nightmare. Baker had come home to celebrate his sister's upcoming wedding and was attending a rehearsal dinner. Instead of celebrating, his family was soon mourning his sudden and violent death.
The incident that led to his killing reportedly stemmed from an ongoing feud between Baker and a former classmate, Andrew Tymek, and their respective circles of friends.
The conflict escalated earlier that day when Tymek allegedly threw a brick through the rear window of a car, which resulted in an injury to a 7-month-old baby inside. Later, around 6:15 p.m., the simmering tensions boiled over on Arthur Street. As Baker was walking, a dark-colored SUV approached him. Baker allegedly threw a rock at the vehicle's windshield. In response, four shots rang out from the SUV. Baker was struck twice in the upper body. When police responded to multiple 911 calls, they found him lying unresponsive in the street. He was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the drive-by shooting quickly led to suspects. The day after the shooting, police arrested 21-year-old Andrew Tymek of Brockton, charging him with murder. He was identified as the driver of the vehicle. A few days later, a second man, 22-year-old Christopher Nogueira of Taunton, was also arrested and charged with murder, accused of being the gunman who fired the fatal shots. Both men were indicted on murder and various firearm charges by a Plymouth County Grand Jury.
The legal process that followed brought different outcomes for the two men accused. Christopher Nogueira, the alleged shooter, went to trial and in November 2022, a jury found him not guilty on all charges related to the shooting. Andrew Tymek, the driver, ultimately pleaded guilty to manslaughter and several other charges, including assault with a deadly weapon and unlawful possession of a firearm. For his role in the death of Anthony Baker, he was sentenced to serve between 15 and 18 years in state prison, bringing a close to one part of a senseless dispute that ended a young man's life.
