By Guy Page
A 22-year old man found shot to death in Swanton Wednesday has been identified as Elijah Oliver of Haverhill, MA. He has been described in his hometown paper as a longtime gang member who by age 19 already had a lengthy criminal record.
A July 31, 2020 news story in the Eagle-Tribune describes Oliver’s sentencing for trying to smuggle a gun past police while being picked up on an “armed assault to murder” warrant.
According to the Eagle-Tribune, police say Oliver belonged to a gang called the Gangsta Disciples. While in police custody he reportedly told a female officer to “respect his rank,” a reference to his gang status.
It is not known why Oliver was in Swanton. His body was found Wednesday morning at at a home on First Street in Swanton. The Chief Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death to be gunshot wounds of the torso, and the manner of death is a homicide.