Story Created:
Jun 26, 2008 at 1:03 PM EST
Story Updated:
Jun 26, 2008 at 4:59 PM EST
Police in 3 different Rhode Island cities are investigating 3 murders Thursday after a woman and two 17-year old boys were gunned down overnight. The shootings took place in Providence, Pawtucket and Woonsocket.
ABC 6 News has team coverage, beginning with Julie Ruditzky in Providence...
Providence Police are investigating a possible gang related homicide that happened just before midnight Wednesday night.
Emergency crews responded to 124 Eastwood Avenue in Providence to reports of a man down. The victim, now identified as 17-year old Virgilio Rojo, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Neighbors tell ABC 6 that teen violence in the area has become an all too familiar story. Investigators are not releasing the victims name at this time, and there is no word of any arrests in the case.
ABC 6 reporter Erica Ricci in Woonsocket...
17-year old Brandon Smith died on the front steps of his home from a gunshot wound to the chest Wednesday night in Woonsocket. Thursday afternoon his sister talked only to ABC 6, saying this was something she had always feared.
Police say the teenager's murder was likely drug related. Smith was shot and killed on the steps outside his Robinson Street house around 10 pm. He had been living there for the past 4 months with a family friend.
His sister tells us she is the one who heard his cry for help followed by gunshots. When she came to the door she found Smith clinging to life on the deck.
So far no arrests have been made.
ABC 6 reporter Malini Basu in Pawtucket...
The 3rd shooting death of the night took place inside a home in Pawtucket. Police are searching for the killer of 26-year old Mayra Cruz, and it may have been her boyfriend.
Pawtucket Police swarmed in on 14 Reservoir Avenue around 10 pm after neighbors heard loud noises coming from the home.
Police barricaded the block off after being told there may have been a person inside the house who was armed and dangerous. But that person, (who was identified to ABC 6 as simply 'Johnny') believed to be the same man who rents the downstairs apartment, fled the scene.
Tuesday, Nov 4 at 10:22 PM woonsocket teen. wrote ...
the cops need to worry about actually capturing people that r doing wrong..instead of arresting people for doing nothing. i knew brandon when i was little my older brother and him were best friends and he lived down the street from me for a long time, i didnt see him after he moved then i heard this happen. i knew him and i highly doubt it was drug or gang related the cops just dont have any better reason for y he got killed. have u ever heard of in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Friday, Jul 25 at 10:35 PM Stephanie wrote ...
well this days in woonsocket are ere are cops up and down these streets they should havw been doing that in the first place bow someone who died andnow there doing something about it
Sunday, Jul 13 at 9:43 PM Bernadette wrote ...
The police don't really care about a 17 yr old who was shot in around the Hartford Projects.If it were some rich white family they would have someone in custody being charged with the murder.But because he lived in the projects they never care about solving project murders in Providence. They figure always some kid was in a gang. Virgilio was not in a gang he did have some problems when he was younger but this year he changed his life around. Why don't they talk about the good stuff and not the
Saturday, Jul 5 at 1:42 PM Drugs,Gangs,and Wrong Crowds?? PLEASE! wrote ...
First off my prayers and love is being sent out to his family and friends.But lets STOP with blaming Drugs,Gangs, and Wrong Crownds!When Woonsocket is too busy taking down anything and everything these kids have to do with thier time and building CONDO'S! How can these kids not be in the "Wrong Crowd or dealing Drugs,or even joining GANGS!" The Skating Rink is GONE.The only place to go w/out having a car was the movies,GONE!And now Social Beach, GONE!Wake UP IS RIGHT!ANOTHA CHILD GONE IN WOONY!
Sunday, Jun 29 at 3:50 PM Anonymous wrote ...
The problem is young teens thinking the way to solving their issues is by guns. What happened to the one on one fist fights and all that? People need to wake up and realize that taking the life of someone else is not going to take away your issues its only going to lead to more!! As a community everyone needs to work with one another to get rid of this violence. We are what makes the communities we live in!!
Saturday, Jun 28 at 1:12 AM dee from woony wrote ...
why do the woonsocket police always focus on why something was done and never on who the hell did it smittys family dont want to hear its drug related they want to here who took their loved ones life
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