FREDERICK COUNTY, MD - Friends are remembering a man who was gunned down in Frederick over the weekend.

Brock Ricketts is still having a hard time understanding why someone would shoot and kill his friend.

"I can't wrap my head around it. It's a careless act. I can't picture this happening to anyone, especially him. He was such a non-confrontational person," Ricketts said.

Police found his friend, Lamont Ellis, shot in Mullinix Alley just before 2 a.m. Sunday. Ellis was declared dead at Frederick Memorial Hospital and became Frederick's first homicide of the year.

Neighbors say they saw Ellis leaving his home along the 3700 block of Hope Commons Circle in Urbana around 10 p.m. Saturday. It was only hours later they began to hear the tragic news.

"I couldn't believe it. Why him? He's just a family man. He works hard. He's friendly, outgoing. I just couldn't believe it. I'm still in shock," said Ricketts, a longtime friend of Ellis.

Police say they are aggressively investigating the homicide.

"We're progressing. We're definitely moving forward. We've interviewed quite a few people, not only the victims friends, his family, but we're also trying to back track our victim's location and what he might have done just prior to the homicide," said Lt. Clark Pennington, with the Frederick City Police Department.

Police haven't named any suspects, but they're asking for the public's help.

"If they have any information, we're asking them to call us. They can remain completely anonymous. The number is 301-600-TIPS," Pennington said.

Ricketts will always remember their friendship and Ellis' smile, which he said could light up an entire room.

"I've known Lamont for about 22 years. We met in junior high in 7th grade. We've pretty much been friends ever since," Ricketts said.

Ellis leaves behind two children. His funeral will be held this Friday in Gaithersburg.