by Anita Baffoni, WPRO News
A Providence man, 34-year-old Jonathan Zapata was allegedly brutally beaten to death near 268 Hartford Avenue around 5 pm Wednesday. In a press conference with Providence Police Major David Lapatin, the suspect was identified as 33-year-old DeShawn Anderson.
Both the suspect and victim are believed to be from the Hartford neighborhood, according to Lapatin.
“What we are hearing initially maybe the victim may have said something off color to the suspect’s daughter which caused the suspect to go after him,” Lapatin said. “As we saw it, all injuries occurred with the use of hands and not a weapon.”
He says the daughter is young, under 10-years-old.
Zapata sustained injuries to his face and head and was pronounced dead at Rhode Island Hospital.
Anderson will be charged with felony assault with the possibility of upgraded charges, pending the medical examiner’s results.
