PROVIDENCE – The 7-year-old girl shot on Florence Street in Providence Thursday night has died, the Providence police said.
She died earlier Monday at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, the police said in a press release.
As a result, the suspects arrested Friday will be charged with murder. They were identified by police as Ahmari Cabrera,19, of Providence, and Shaheem Nathaniel, 26, of Cranston.
They are being held to appear at the next session of District Court, Providence, and will also face numerous firearms violations, the police said.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim involved in this tragic incident, resulting in the death of an innocent child,” the Providence police said. “We will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident and further charges may be forthcoming.”
Two arrests in tragic shooting
On Friday afternoon, the Providence police joined Mayor Brett Smiley in a press conference announcing the two arrests.
With all available resources working through the night, the police found the men at a Providence residence at about 10 a.m., Deputy Chief of Police Timothy O’Hara told reporters.
The girl was in the back seat of a car with two family members on Florence Street when she was shot at about 7:30 Thursday night, according to the police.
She was “absolutely not” the intended target, but O’Hara said there was some interaction before the shooting between the driver of the car and the suspects.
“Right now, we know the who; the why is what we’re working on,” O’Hara said on Friday.
‘This crime has shaken the entire city.’
Smiley offered sympathy and prayers for the family and said, “This crime has shaken the entire city. It’s shaken me.”
Smiley said he hoped the family of the girl and other residents could take some comfort in knowing that the Police Department had taken the two suspects into custody.
Police officers were disturbed by the incident and worked on the investigation for hours, according to O’Hara. “It was an all-hands-on-deck situation,” he said.
Smiley acknowledged that there has been too much gun violence in Providence recently, including the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old on Sunday.
“This caps off a couple of rough days in Providence,” he said. “This is not a level of violence that should be acceptable.”
Overall, he said, shootings are down from last year, and the police have worked hard to take guns off the streets.
Smiley praised the Police Department’s work and said he has his “utmost confidence” in the department, but he acknowledged that police officers can’t be everywhere and too often must react after a crime has been committed. He said the community must work together to prevent conditions that contribute to crime.
He said, “We all have a role to play.”
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 7-year-old girl shot on Florence Street in Providence has died
Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
