4 charged in shooting death of 17-year-old Rhode Island girl

Woonsocket Police headquarters. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (AP) – Police say the four people charged with killing a 17-year-old Rhode Island girl as she sat in the driver’s seat of an SUV were gunning for a 14-year-old boy in the vehicle with her.

Two adults and two juveniles were arrested in the death Wednesday night of Nyasia Williams-Thomas in Woonsocket.

One, 18-year-old Jose Ortiz Martinez was held without bail Friday on charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

He did not enter a plea and was referred to the public defender’s office.

Two 17-year-old youths faces the same charges.

No information about the fourth suspect was released.

This story has been updated to identify some of the suspects and the purported motive for the shooting. 

 

More from 630WPRO.COM