Bridgeport residents observed National Gun Violence Awareness Day by speaking publicly for the first time about a young man who was found fatally shot Tuesday night in East Lyme.

Police say 23-year-old Jonathan Dawson was found shot to death on the side of the road near I-95.

Connecticut State Police say the Chief Medical Examiner has ruled the case a homicide.

A makeshift memorial was set up outside Dawson’s home in the East Side neighborhood where he grew up.

Family friends said Dawson was a beloved member of the community who was devoted to his family.

“He was somebody and he was loved," cried Dawn Thomas, who said she was like a second mother to Dawson.

Community activist Tony Barr, who lives a few blocks away, said National Gun Violence Awareness Day should be every day in Bridgeport until the problem is solved.

"We have to do better in the city of Bridgeport," Barr said.

"One act of violence, gun violence, is too many," said Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim. He said the best way to pay tribute to Dawson is to back up National Gun Violence Awareness Day with practical action.

"We're taking a major step forward in the City of Bridgeport to reinvest in communities of color similar to what Los Angles, California has just announced, to reinvest real dollars in communities ofcolor to try and make even a greater impact," Ganim said.

Dawson's family said he was working on a mentoring program to be called "From Kids to Kings." The program would have addressed gun violence by steering young people away from the streets.