Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

Providence Journal photo / Mary Murphy
Providence Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation detectives work the scene of the shooting of a 17-year-old male in this white Toyota Thursday morning.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. - The executive director of the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence said the shooting of a 17-year-old boy this morning in the Elmwood section appears to be an ongoing feud between young Latinos mostly from the South Side that began last year.

Teny O. Gross, the executive director of the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence said street workers and other staff from the institute had been with family and friends of the young man who was shot.

He said he did not want disclose any more information out of deference to the police investigation.

Gross called on parents and their children to keep a cool head and talk together so the violence does not escalate.

"It is important to convey that there is a lot of sadness among the parents of these kids. The friends are very upset. The younger brothers and sisters are scared," Gross said.
"It is only a small percentage that wants to retaliate. The majority of the people are sad and want this to stop," he said.

Christina O'Reilly, spokeswoman for the Providence Public School District said the young man is a student in the Providence school system but would not say where. She said a crisis team went to the student's school to help classmates process what is happening. "Our wishes certainly are for a full recovering for this young man," she said.

The 17-year-old who was shot Thursday morning in the city's Elmwood section is listed in critical but stable condition, according to Deputy Police Chief Paul Kennedy.
The teen, whose identity the police are not releasing, was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he underwent surgery, Kennedy said.

According to Providence Teachers Union president Steve Smith, the student, whom he also did not name, attends Alvarez High School, 375 Adelaide Ave.

The police are investigating the shooting, reported at about 8:30 a.m., and whether it's related to another shooting that happened Saturday morning, when a 17-year-old who was partying with friends in the backyard of a house on Friendship Street was killed.

Kennedy, the deputy police chief, said the youth was shot several times while sitting inside a white Toyota in a parking lot next to Harwol Court, a multi-unit apartment building at 211 Adelaide Ave. Kennedy said the youth did not live in the building..

The driver's side of the car was parked next to a fence, and its passenger side window was shot out.

The police said they were told that another male was seen leaving the scene, wearing blue sweatpants and a hooded sweatshirt.

 Tags  Providence RI shooting

Comments

barbara said:

its sad to see yet another shooting in prov. but my ? is why wasnt this "boy" in school?

Link | March 12, 2009 3:49 PM
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EMT said:

Bur remember, "The city is safe!" The mayor said so!

Link | March 12, 2009 4:50 PM
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Oh well said:

So a 17 year old got shot. Why wasn't he in school. If he is a drop out then he probably in with the wrong gorup of people who are up to no good and hurting others as a way of earning. Either drug dealing, breaking into houses, robbery or shootings himself there maybe just some irony here. And if this person was part of any the above stated then the police should not waste their time in investgating it.

Link | March 12, 2009 8:06 PM
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salvador rivas said:

I am 19 years old from providence, i've been growing up in this city, together with this situation, thanks god ive never been asociated with gangs..but iva seen this stuff happen for a while now...and i just dont get how this kids being doing stuff thinkin that they are going somewhere..

sad to say..but they are going to keep dying...there is so much heat on the streets i even took my sister out of school early today..

Link | March 12, 2009 11:33 PM
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Yari said:

It's sad to see another teen get shot. My friend Milo was killed in his apt. and now this. I grew up in Providence and never ever been into bad things like that (no drugs, no gangs, nothing)It's very sad to see what this world is coming to. I just hope that the boy realizes that life is precious and don't take it for granted. Remember when you leave this world what do you want people to remember you by. Do you want them to remember you by being in gangs, drugs, shootings, etc. Or do you want them to remember you as a sweet heart with love and always looking out for those who you love most

Link | March 13, 2009 12:33 PM
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Anonymous said:

'barbara said:
its sad to see yet another shooting in prov. but my ? is why wasnt this "boy" in school?'

He was in his car about to go to school.

Link | March 23, 2009 2:05 PM
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