Providence man sentenced to life in prison in gang-related Pawtucket murder

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — A Providence man was sentenced to life in prison for a gang-related drive-by shooting murder in Pawtucket in 2021.

Jahcolin Rodrigues, 23, was sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to life in prison plus 20 years for the murder of Leonardo Tavares.

Rodrigues pleaded guilty on August 15 to one count of first-degree murder and one count of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle.

The incident occurred on May 15, 2021 when Rodrigues spotted Tavares while driving through Pawtucket.

Rodrigues circled the block and fired several shots into Tavares’ Nissan Rogue killing him.

Rodrigues was positively identified by witnesses through video surveillance footage of the incident obtained by Pawtucket police.

The murder was determined to be due to an ongoing feud with members of the Bucket West street gang, of which the defendant believed the victim to be a member.

30-year-old Todd Alicea of Pawtucket was also charged with murder, conspiracy and others in the incident.