Eric Gibson
Violence Prevention Specialist
Eric, a former South Central gang member, was the victim of a drive-by shooting in 1993.
Eric Gibson a former South Central L.A. gang member who was recruited for thuggery and drug dealing at 13 years old became a victim in 1993. At age 25 the victim of a drive-by shooting when five bullets from a .357 Magnum slammed into his body, leaving him bound to a wheelchair forever. "It was the best thing that ever happened to me," he says now. "I told God in the ambulance that if he saved me, I would spend my life cleaning up the mess I'd made."
And that's what he's done.
Eric has served on the board of the National Spinal Cord Association for three years (first African American male in 48 years), he has spoken voluntarily at numerous schools, community centers, public events, gang summits and conferences as a strong advocate of peaceful means to stop community and gang violence.
Contact Information:
- Date of Injury: 1993
- Type of Injury: Spinal Cord Injury, T12
- Current Home: Marina Del Rey
- Education:
- UCLA Alcohol and Drug Counseling program
- Occupation:
- Durable medical ---- and Violence Prevention Specialist
Eric’s passion and no nonsense approach to violence has made him an integral member of KnowBarriers.
“All of my brothers had been shot, one of them six times. I was the only one who hadn’t been. “Now I’m fighting a war with very little ammo and I want to win”