Providence man convicted in 2021 restaurant murder

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Providence man has been found guilty in a murder that took place in a Broad Street restaurant in 2021.

Juan Rivera, 37, was found guilty of one count of murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder, and a host of other charges in Providence Superior Court Friday.

Rivera was found to have entered Roque’s Café wearing a mask and black hooded sweatshirt on September 25, 2021 at 8:56 a.m., shooting the victim Jorge Isaac Garcia six times, killing him.

During the investigation, police obtained numerous pieces of surveillance footage which they used to establish the suspect’s whereabouts before and after the shooting.

Through this footage, two vehicles were identified in the shooting, a Toyota Corolla and  Dodge Ram.

The drivers of these vehicles met, and the driver of the Ram exited the vehicle and entered the Corolla.

The Corolla is then seen parking at Wiggins Village and both individuals exited and ran in the direction of Roque’s Café minutes before the shooting.

Surveillance also shows the suspect running back toward the Corolla and driving away.

Forensic analysis of Rivera’s cell phone tracked him from his home to Broad Street, where Roque’s is located.

These movements took place during the time of the murder.

Photos showing Rivera wearing the same distinct sweatshirt and sneakers as the suspect were obtained by the police.

“Removing firearms from our streets and out of the hands of violent criminals is a top priority to the women and men of the Providence Police Department,” said Providence Police Colonel Oscar L. Perez Jr.

Rivera will be held in custody at the ACI pending sentencing.