The older brother of a 12-year-old boy shot and killed in Bridgeport last year was shot in the leg Thursday night.

The family of Gamel Dawkins, 29, tells News 12 their son was just an innocent bystander when he was shot in the leg while walking to the store.

Dawkins is recovering at Bridgeport Hospital and will undergo surgery to remove the bullet, his family says. He is expected to make a full recovery.

"I thank God that he spared his life," said April Barron, a friend of the family. "I thank God that he didn't allow his mother to go through the same thing she went through with her youngest son."

News 12 interviewed Dawkins back in April when he was recognized by Mayor Joe Ganim for mentoring young people as a tribute to his brother, Clinton Howell, who was shot to death a week before Christmas while walking home from the store where he had bought himself a snack.

Dawkins also told News 12 he is taking steps to becoming a Bridgeport police officer. His family says that getting shot has only made him more determined to become a police officer and to turn the loss of his brother into a gain for his city.

"I feel that I can help out a lot with my experience going through the death of my brother and basically just trying to help families one by one to make a better community," Dawkins previously told News 12.

Police say the shooting is under investigation.

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