By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
Police believe gang activity is behind a string of violent incidents that sent several people to the hospital in Providence over the weekend.
At least three people were hospitalized as a result of multiple shootings and a double-stabbing over the weekend, said Providence Police Detective Commander Major David Lapatin.
“Five out of the six of these incidents could be caused by the same faction,” said Maj. Lapatin, He would not speculate what touched off the wave of violence.
“We believe the gangs come from … concentrate on the North End and the East Side of the city, the Chad Brown area,” he said.
He listed the incidents at a Monday afternoon news conference:
- “About 1:17 A.M. Sunday morning, Providence police responded to The Vault Lounge on Atwells Avenue. There, two men were found to be stabbed. Both are non-life-threatening wounds but are serious. Both men are in the hospital. We have some witnesses, and we are presently working on that case.
- At 1:57 A.M., we then responded to Fete Lounge on Dyke St. in the Olneyville section of the city. The call was for a disturbance. When we arrived there, shortly after we realized there was a shooting. That gentleman, the victim was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he remains as we speak. Serious, but non-life-threatening.
- Later that morning, 2:05 A.M., on Pleasant Street, we received a call of shots fired. We found a scene of several spent shells in front of 195 Pleasant St.
- At 2:46 A.M., we responded to Liege Street, where we found two victims, one female shot in the leg. They stated they were sitting in their car when a vehicle drove by them and fired upon them. She was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, non-life-threatening.
- At 7:30 A.M., we responded to Doyle Avenue, a report of shots fired, a confirmed scene of shots fired, nobody injured.
- And then at 8:50 P.M., we responded back to Pleasant St., this time 61, where a male was found to be shot several times. He was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, serious but not life-threatening, where he remains today.”
“We do believe that five out of six of these incidents are gang-related. We have called many people back from the violent crime task force. All working detectives are concentrating on specific areas, and our investigators are working this case as we speak,” Lapatin said.
He said he that the Vault Lounge stabbings may not be gang-related.
“I’m certainly not excluding it,” he said, “but as we look at it today, it may not be.”
