‘Meaningless dispute’: Providence man convicted in 2021 double murder sentenced

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Providence man has been sentenced in a 2021 Providence double murder, according to the office of Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha.

Kelvin Maldonado, 32, has been sentenced to serve four consecutive life sentences and a concurrent term of 16 years to serve in state prison.

On January 29, Maldonado was convicted of two counts of murder, three counts of discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence and one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

The incident occurred on June 21, 2021 when Providence police responded to a shooting near Cheshire Street and Salina Street at approximately 3:20 a.m.

Abdoulaye Diallo, 24, of Woonsocket, was found on the ground unresponsive and Abass Mbaye, 29, of Senegal, was found in the passenger seat of a Range Rover.

Both victims were transported to Rhode Island Hospital where they were pronounced deceased.

The victims had attended a party with Maldonado on Cheshire street, according to witnesses, and the three men were asked to leave the party for sneaking in without paying the cover charge.

A physical altercation ensued between the men, and Maldonado shot both of the victims.

Maldonado was identified via video footage from four different sources, and a witness told authorities that they saw Maldonado flash a firearm in the same area where the shots were fired.

Cell phone location data was also used to place Maldonado at the scene of the shooting.

“Two men tragically lost their lives because the defendant had access to a gun and decided to use it to settle a meaningless dispute,” said Attorney General Neronha.

“With our law enforcement partners, we will continue to aggressively enforce all of Rhode Island’s gun laws to achieve safety, justice, and accountability.”