DENVER -- Denver Bronco Darrent Williams touched many lives during his short stint as a professional football player.

The young cornerback was gunned down while riding in a limousine with several friends early New Years Day, 2007.

"His spirit has been an inspiration to many people," said Rev. Leon Kelly of Open Door Youth Gang Services.

On Wednesday, a grand jury indicted William Clark in connection with the killing, charging him on 39 counts, among them first degree murder.

"I knew it was just a matter of time before something happened," Kelly said.

Kelly has spent a good part of his life trying to steer kids away from gangs and violence.

He said the indictment against Clark sends a message to many of the kids that he works with.

"The message that it's sending out to many of my kids," Kelly said, "is that people are going to hold you accountable for your choices and for your actions."

"I think they should never have killed him," said Sakou Dearing, a 5th grader who takes part in Kelly's after-school program at Wyatt Edison Charter School.

Dearing doesn't know why Darrent Williams was targeted, but said, "If I was a magician, I would have told him not to get into the limo."

"It's tough whenever you lose someone who has a positive outlook and a passion for helping kids," said Rich Barrows, Branch Director at a teen center named in honor of the slain football player.

Barrows said Darrent Williams had visited several Denver area Boys and Girls Clubs.

"When you lose someone who is so young and who has so much potential, it obviously touches everyone."

Barrows added that several members of the Darrent Williams Teen Center have joined the Students Against Violence program.

"Some of that came about because they don't want to see that happen to their classmates, to themselves or to their little brothers and sisters."