Police arrest suspect in car crash, shootout in Providence

January 27, 2016 9:42 pm

By News Staff

Reporting by Kirsten Glavin

kglavin@abc6.com

Police are investigating after a car crash turned into a shooting, prompting a manhunt Wednesday afternoon on the south side of Providence.

The accident happened on Eddy Street when one of the vehicles struck a telephone pole. A shootout between the occupants ensued. One of the passengers, 18-year-old Juan Velasquez, was injured, and fled the scene on foot towards Oxford Street.

A Providence man, who does not want to be identified, was painting the doorway inside his business when he witnessed Velasquez running towards him/

"I ran to the door, and I saw the guy full of blood," said the witness. "I tried to hold him and go right behind him to help him. He should have stopped and not run, and gone to the hospital."

Velasquez was one of several people fleeing the crash scene. According to police, the two cars crashed before the occupants exited their vehicles and began shooting at each other.

"I saw he was full of blood," said the witness.

Velasquez headed towards the Juanita Sanchez School off of Thurbers Avenue where he was arrested by a school resource officer. Neighboring schools were placed on lockdown.

"I didn’t know there was a shooting involved. If I had known there was a shooting involved, I would have been more concerned," added the witness.

Velasquez is charged with possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm while committing a crime of violence, felony assault, and discharging a firearms in a compact area. Police are still looking for the other suspects that fled the scene.