Mayor promises transparency as family, advocates question Pawtucket police shooting

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — The family of a man shot and injured by a Pawtucket police officer on June 8 is questioning why that shooting was necessary.

Sebastian Yidana’s mother spoke at a press conference Friday morning, asking police for answers as her son remains hospitalized.

Yidana, 28, was shot by Pawtucket officer Thomas Letourneau after police received calls reporting a person pointing a gun at himself and others, police said.

The incident occurred in front of the Slater House Apartments on Goff Avenue.

Yidana was struck in the shoulder and taken to the hospital, his family said.

His mother said he is expected to need surgery.

Police later determined the gun was a plastic replica rifle, according to Pawtucket Det. Sgt. Theodore Georgitsis.

In a statement Friday, Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien said Yidana was “reported to have been seen waving what appeared to be a rifle at members of the public and later at Officer Thomas Letourneau upon his arrival.”

Grebien said he looks forward to reviewing the results of the officer-involved shooting investigation being jointly conducted by the office of Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha, Rhode Island State Police, and the Pawtucket Police Department.

“We remain committed to transparency and working closely with our police department to ensure that our use of force policies and training reflect the highest standards of safety and responsibility,” Grebien said in the statement.

Police investigate after a Pawtucket officer shot a suspect near Goff Avenue on Sunday, June 8, 2025 (WLNE).

Police charged Yidana with felony assault with a device similar to a firearm and disorderly conduct for both the June 8 incident and a separate incident that occurred a day earlier, a spokesperson for the police department said.

Yidana’s mother, Regina Socree, said she has been unable to visit Yidana in the hospital because of those charges.

At the Friday morning press conference, Socree said her son suffers from mental illness and needs her to help make medical decisions.

“I have no answers, and that’s why I’m here,” Socree said. “I need answers, and I need to see my son. He’s disabled. His only crime was holding a toy gun, an orange toy gun.”

Socree said police are familiar with Yidana from previous dealings, and knew of his mental illness, which she said he’s been dealing with for ten years.

According to court records, Pawtucket police previously charged Yidana with three misdemeanors for an incident on Feb. 7, 2025.

No other previous criminal charges are listed.

“He’s a very good kid, very quiet, and he’s not a troublemaker,” Socree said.

She said Yidana is diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and has been in and out of the hospital.

Socree said she wants to see police body camera footage of the incident to understand what went wrong in officers’ interaction with her son.

Police have not confirmed the officers involved were wearing cameras or released any footage, but ABC6 News did file an Access to Public Records Act request in an effort to obtain the footage.

Police have not yet responded to that request, but under state law, have additional time to do so.

ABC6 News also reached out to Pawtucket police to ask if Chief Tina Goncalves had any response to the family’s statements at the press conference Friday.

Police have not returned that message as of the publication of this story.

Letourneau, the officer involved in the shooting, was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, according to Goncalves.

That is standard practice in police-involved shootings in Rhode Island.

Yidana’s arraignment for the charges related to the shooting is scheduled for June 16.