On a summer night in Brockton, Massachusetts, the life of 16-year-old Anthony Weeks was tragically cut short. It was July 5, 2002, and the young Black / African American male became an unintended victim of a cycle of gang violence that had erupted earlier that day. The events leading to his death began with a fight at the Brockton Fair, an altercation in which Weeks was present but not involved.
Following the fair, as Weeks and a group of others walked along Belmont Street, the conflict
escalated. A white Ford Explorer became involved in a series of events with the group. In an attempt to find safety, Weeks crouched down and hid behind a parked car. From a nearby window, a neighbor witnessed the harrowing moments that followed. George Vicente, who was 17 at the time, climbed onto a car and positioned himself to get a clear shot. He then fired downward, striking and killing Anthony Weeks.
The investigation that followed led to the arrest of George Vicente. Key evidence included finger and palm prints found on the rear window of a car where the shooter had leaned, which were a perfect match to Vicente's. Investigators also found shoe prints on the hood of another car that were consistent with the shoes Vicente was wearing when he was taken into custody. The trajectory of the bullet that killed Weeks further corroborated the witness's account of the shooter's position.
During his parole hearings, Vicente admitted his involvement in a gang and stated that he had been "jumped" by members of a rival gang earlier on the day of the murder. He explained that he felt shamed and was seeking retaliation. He intended to shoot at a group of people he believed to be rival gang members, first firing at someone he knew to be in the gang. As Anthony Weeks attempted to flee, Vicente shot and killed him. On March 14, 2006, a jury in Plymouth Superior Court found George Vicente guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Anthony Weeks. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole.
