Providence Police Press Conference on Murder, Five Shot, and 4 Separate Stabbings
Monday, August 02, 2021
Video courtesy of GoLocal's Media Partner Latino Public Radio
The carnage continues in Providence. Providence Police have confirmed to GoLocal that there was yet another stabbing on Sunday.GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST
This brings the total number of violent incidents over the weekend to one murder; five people shot in another incident; and four separate stabbings -- all since Friday night.
As the details emerge it is clear that Providence Police have been running from incident to incident.
The pace has been relentless. Providence Police Major David Lapatin held a press conference Monday morning to discuss the violence. (SEE ABOVE)
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza has refused repeated requests for comment about the weekend violence.
Providence Councilor Nirva LaFortune who has repeatedly over the past year called for the defunding of the Providence Police said in a statement, "As elected officials and community leaders, we must work together to keep guns off our streets and create productive and healthy alternatives for youth in our city. This is not who we are as a city. As we move forward let us remember that violence only brings pain and suffering. I will continue to work with the community and stakeholders in honor of those who have been impacted by the violence in our city."
LaFortune represents Ward 3, and is the area in which the murder took place. There have also been two shootings in recent weeks at the Billy Taylor Park on Camp Street -- that playground is also located in LaFortune's ward.
Stabbings
The weekend began with a stabbing early Saturday morning on Federal Hill. READ MORE ABOUT THAT INCIDENT HERE.
The second stabbing this weekend was early Sunday morning in the area of Broad and Fricker Streets. The victim was brought to the hospital, and police said he is expected to survive.
The third stabbing, according to police, was the result of a fight at the Route 10 off-ramp at Union Avenue.
Police said it appears that a car came down the highway ramp and smashed into another car — which might have been on purpose. Following the incident, occupants reportedly got out of one of the vehicles and a stabbing occurred. The victim underwent emergency surgery and is in critical condition.
Following those incidents, a stabbing occurred on Caldor Street Sunday afternoon shortly before 1 PM, say police.
Shootings
The area on Reservoir where five people were shot early Sunday morning is a lot behind Popeye's Chicken, where, according to police, people -- including motorbike and ATV riders -- are known to congregate following the closing of clubs.
Police say there was at least one gunman, and four of the five victims were hospitalized.
On Sunday, police were releasing very little information of the woman shot and killed on Olney Avenue overnight. Authorities confirmed she was in her early 20s, and that the homicide occurred just outside of Roger Williams Green at University Heights on Providence's East Side.
UPDATED: 12 noon 9/2/2021
