Student shot dead outside Providence school; 'person of interest' found shot a mile away

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A 15-year-old high-school student was shot and killed in front of the Providence Career and Technical Academy on Wednesday, the second day of school.

The teenage boy was shot shortly before 2 p.m. following a fight at Westminister and Fricker streets, just outside the school, according to Police Chief Col. Hugh T. Clements Jr.

The victim was a student at Central High School, according to an automated phone message to parents.  

A few minutes later, police were called about another teenage boy who was found shot and wounded outside 40 Sprague St., about a mile away from the school.

Maj. David Lapatin said the second victim is considered a "person of interest" in the homicide outside the school. The boy was taken to Hasbro Children's Hospital for treatment for a gunshot wound in his thigh.

Clements said the school resource officer had been notified that a fight was going on outside PCTA. Witnesses told the officer that during the fight, one of the suspects pulled out a handgun and a single shot was fired. The two suspects then fled.

Police did not release the boy's name, pending notification of family. This is the eighth homicide in the city this year.

Police cruisers flooded the intersection of Cranston and Fricker streets, in front of the technical school, where a streak of blood was visible on the technical school's sign. A K9 crew helped police in their search for the two suspects, also described as students. Officers also examined a vehicle parked at the intersection.

Photos of the blood-spattered sign and the victim lying in front of the school circulated on social media.

The Providence Career and Technical Academy stands next to Central and Classical high schools. Central High School released its students at 1:30 p.m. All three schools were on limited lockdown, school officials said.

Shortly before 3 p.m., students were released out of a back door of the technical school. More than 10 police officers fanned out across Cranston Street and began walking west in the direction of the Wiggin Village apartment complex. Witnesses said they had seen two male youths running in the direction of the apartment complex following the shooting.

Melissa Sparn, 31, said she had gotten off the bus at Broad Street and was walking up Fricker Street just as school was letting out. She heard two or three pops and saw a group of about six youths running down Fricker Street.

"These kids were just flying," she said. "They were running."

Janice Thibodeau, the mother of a student at Providence Career and Technical Academy, was in tears outside the school Wednesday. She said a relative called her to say there had been a shooting, and she arrived to check on her son, who was safe.

"I can’t believe it happened here,” she said.

By late afternoon, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, Public Safety Commissioner Col. Steven Pare, Providence Supt. Christopher N. Maher and Deputy Attorney General Gerald Coyne and Assistant Attorney General Stacey Veroni, chief of the criminal division, huddled in conversation behind the yellow crime-scene tape.

Gov. Gina Raimondo, who was scheduled to hold a press conference Wednesday on student mental health, came to the crime scene instead.

“As a mother, this is every parent’s worst nightmare," she said. "It’s scary. So I wanted to be here to say to the folks here on the scene, we’re with you. We’ll do anything we can to support you. We’ll make sure there’s extra mental health counselors tomorrow. We’ve taken action. Enough is enough with gun violence. We’ve got to do more. We have to continue to do more to keep our kids safe.”

"This is a devastating tragedy for the family and for our city," said Elorza. "I am heartbroken for the family of the victim and for the students and adults who have been impacted by this terrible tragedy. This type of violence will not be accepted in our city, and we will come together as a community to support the victim's family."

Providence Teachers Union President Maribeth Calabro said in a statement that in light of the fatal shooting, teachers will suspend their decision to work to rule, which limits teachers only to activities during the school day. The union announced last week that it was engaging in work to rule in response to an ongoing labor dispute with the city. Calabro added that teachers will gather before the start of school Thursday to discuss their response to the incident.

Maher's statement, issued Wednesday night, said: "All of us at Providence Public Schools are left grief-stricken by today’s events, and our hearts go out to the family and friends of this young man. As a reassurance to our families, we will have an increased police presence at our high schools tomorrow. We are also deploying counseling and support services for both students and staff at schools impacted by this tragedy.

"Lastly, I want to praise the compassion and professionalism of the Providence Police and emergency personnel, and personally thank our staff at the schools who worked together today to support our students in this difficult time."

State education Commissioner Ken Wagner issued this statement: “It’s devastating to hear of a young life cut short, and I speak for the entire department when I say that our thoughts are with the district, the students, and most of all, with the family of the victim. My team and I have been in constant contact with the district and the city this afternoon, and offer our ongoing assistance for whatever they may need at this difficult time. Our focus will continue to be on the well-being of our students, and giving them — and our educators — the support they need.”

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse tweeted his condolences. "Heartbroken to hear of the boy killed at PCTA today. My heart goes out to his family. Grateful to the first responders and school personnel working to keep students and the community safe."

As he offered his sympathies, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed also condemned violence and urged action.

“There is too much gun violence. Period. Elected officials need to start listening to students, parents, teachers, and law enforcement. They are demanding action to keep guns from flooding our streets," Reed said in a statement. "We must work together toward commonsense solutions to make our schools and communities safer. We can’t just give in to apathy or allow gun industry lobbyists to block progress or weaken public safety measures."

At the second scene on Sprague Street, Lt. Richard Fernandes said there was no evidence in the street of a shooting. Officers seized surveillance video from the area and searched the roof of the nearby Safe-Way Electric Motor Company, at the corner of Sprague and Fuller streets, in case the firearm had been tossed up there from the street.

Hours later, the weapon had not been found.

The Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence sent street workers and its victims-services staff to the hospital and the school to offer support and to be a liaison for the victims' relatives and friends. Executive Director PJ Fox III said the institute was also checking on areas that "could be at risk" for trouble in the aftermath of the shooting to prevent possible retaliation.

In the message to parents, school officials noted that some students may have witnessed the incident, so the three schools will offer counseling to students on Thursday.

Watching the officers at the crime scene on Sprague Street, Councilman Wilbur Jennings, who represents neighboring Ward 8, said he was troubled by the violence.

"People are very concerned about gun violence. It's terrible in this country," he said. "I never thought I'd see this. It's the second day of school. It's crazy."

The two teenage victims made him think of his own 19-year-old son.

Jennings said, "I talk to him all the time, and I tell him, 'You are who you hang with.'"

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