COLUMBUS, Ohio — Just over a week ago, 39-year-old Dante Gamble was shot and killed in the parking lot of Luxxe Lounge on Beechwood Road.
Police said Gamble was trying to leave the club when he was hit by gunfire last Tuesday night. Family and friends gathered a week later to mourn and remember.
"He wasn't just a father. He wasn't just a friend, a cousin, a brother, uncle. He was a human being that didn't deserve to go out like this,” Tobias Collins, a friend of Dante’s, said.
"Dante was one of them dudes… he loved everybody. He'd give you the clothes off his back. If you didn't have it, he made sure you did."
"If he bought you a drink...if he made your day, if he did anything to help you out, that's the kind of man my brother was,” Teaira Gamble, Dante’s sister, said.
Teaira got emotional as their community came together to lean on one another.
"My life is forever changed because of this,” she said.
The community wrapped their arms around each other Tuesday night while also showing their support for Dante’s young son.
"You are loved Dante, you will always be loved and taken care of,” Teaira said.
As they gathered to remember, the group also took a step back to acknowledge change is needed.
"It's times like this, we gotta stop meeting up like this,” Collins said.
"If I knew the world was gonna be like this with the gun violence, I wouldn't have had kids. I mean, I am scared,” Latonya Coley, Dante’s cousin, said.
As they leaned on each other through their grief, Dante’s loved ones found a little light in the darkness.
"Violence is not the answer, I mean I know we get made in those instances but you gotta look at what's happening,” Teaira said.
Police are still looking for the suspect connected to the shooting.