Three arrested in East Providence park stabbing

By: Brittany Comak & Daniel Keith

Twitter: @ABC6

Email: news@abc6.com

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) – A 16-year-old is recovering from being stabbed in the back at Onna W. Moniz-John Park in East Providence Wednesday afternoon.

Two kids had planned a meeting at a nearby playground when a full brawl broke out, according to Police Chief William Nebus.

Things quickly escalated when one of them pulled out a knife.

“They were going to talk something out probably the usual things kids talk about . . . someone said something about someone on social media,” Nebus said.

The 16 year old victim was trying to do the right thing and play the role of peacemaker but ended up getting stabbed in the back.

The victim, a male, is ok after he was stabbed with the three inch knife.

East Providence Police arrested two teenage boys and a teenage girl.

Nebus says he doesn’t know how it started but can put the rumors to rest.

“Some of the rumors put on social media that this was a bullying event . . . as far as the investigation has spun so far that does not appear to be the case.”

Police got a call about a disturbance at the park around 2:30.

“It just turned into something it wasn’t supposed to,” said witness and friend to the victim, Gyanna Kirwin.

“It wasn’t even supposed to be a fight, it was supposedly some 17–year–old was pressing some little kid, so they just came here to talk it out, try and figure out what was happening,” said witness Kaiden Collins.

The suspects took off when police got there, but they caught up with them on Freeborn Avenue.

They’re now charged with assault with a deadly weapon and conspiracy.

“Whatever just happened today was unfortunate,” said a friend of the victim’s, Joel Castillo. “Came to the park wrong place, wrong time.”

Friends say they hope there will be consequences.

“He’s just a well known kid. Everyone likes him,” said Kirwin. “He gets along with everyone. He doesn’t really start problems with no one.”

Two of the suspects were released but police are holding one at the Rhode Island Training School.

The victim was treated at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and he is expected to be okay.

“All my prayers out to him hopefully he’s alright,” said Castillo.

Police do have extra patrols in the area and the high school does have counselors on hand.

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