News Summary
A tragic shooting incident in Providence left a 7-year-old girl critically injured while she was seated in a car with her family. The attack happened on Florence Street as her father drove the vehicle. The girl was rushed to Hasbro Children’s Hospital and remains in critical condition. Two suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting, which has shocked the community and raised concerns over rising gun violence in the area. Officials are currently investigating the incident and the circumstances surrounding it.
Providence
A 7-year-old girl was critically injured in a shooting incident while sitting in a car with her family in Providence on Thursday night. The shooting took place around 7:40 p.m. on Florence Street as the girl’s father was driving the vehicle.
The young girl, who was seated in the back row with her younger brother, was rushed to Hasbro Children’s Hospital and remains in critical condition as of Friday afternoon. Preliminary reports indicate that the girl was not the intended target of the gunfire. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, which has left the community in shock.
In connection with the incident, police arrested two suspects: Ahmari Cabrera, 19, of Providence, and Shaheem Nathaniel, 26, of Cranston. Both are facing charges of felony assault along with pending firearm-related charges. Investigators have confirmed that some interaction occurred between the vehicle’s operator and the shooters prior to the gunfire, although the exact nature of this connection remains unclear.
The shooting has been described by Providence Deputy Police Chief Timothy O’Hara as an “unfathomable tragedy” linked to senseless gun violence. Mayor Brett Smiley echoed these sentiments, stating that the incident has deeply upset the city and left a profound impact on its residents.
Local television footage showed a bullet hole in the front windshield of the family car, underscoring the violence of the attack. As part of the investigation, the Providence Police Department executed a search warrant on Carleton Street in connection to the shooting.
Both Cabrera and Nathaniel have relatively minor criminal histories, which has come as a surprise to many in the community. As concerns about gun violence rise, the community has mobilized, with the R.I. Black Lives Matter PAC planning a vigil on Florence Street to advocate for an end to gun violence.
Mayor Smiley mentioned that in the current year, the city has seen a higher number of illegal firearms seized compared to last year, yet acknowledged that there remains significant work to do in combating such violence. The recent surge in gun-related incidents has left many residents feeling unsafe and concerned about their community’s future.
Further emphasizing the severity of the situation, Deputy Chief O’Hara indicated that police worked tirelessly to identify and apprehend the suspects involved in the shooting. The ongoing investigation aims to provide clarity and justice for the victims and their loved ones, while officials continue to address the alarming rise in gun violence in the city.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Rhode Island Plate Wins Best Plate of 2024
Cranston Police Investigate Stabbing During St. Mary’s Feast
Rhode Island Supreme Court Upholds Alege Conviction for Assault
Drug Arrests Highlight Ongoing Crisis in Rhode Island
Pawtucket Police Shooting Sparks Community Protests
Providence Man Convicted of Brutal Murder
Brush Fires Erupt in Rhode Island and Pennsylvania
Former National Guard Member Convicted of Murder in Providence
Rhode Island Supreme Court Upholds Conviction of Former School Administrator
Butler Hospital Closes Psychiatric Units Amid Strike
Additional Resources
- ABC6: Providence Police Execute Search Warrant After Shooting of 7-Year-Old
- Wikipedia: Providence, Rhode Island
- Boston Globe: Providence Shooting Leaves Girl Critically Injured
- Google Search: Gun Violence Providence
- Turn to 10: Person Injured During Stabbing Incident in Providence
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Gun Violence
- Turn to 10: Large Police Presence in Providence
- Google News: Providence Shooting
