Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

WARWICK, R.I. -- The Warwick Police Department, with the assistance of the Providence and Cranston police, arrested two 19-year-olds in connection with a shooting during a home invasion robbery last Wednesday at 8 King St.

Reaksmeay R. Pich, of 149 Whitmarsh St., Providence, was charged with assault with intent to commit a felony; kidnapping; robbery and discharging a firearm in a dwelling house. Joseph A. Danti, of 8 King St., Warwick, was charged with conspiracy and obstructing a police officer, according to Maj. Michael J. Babula.

Babula declined to give further details of the arrests. He said the investigation is continuing and that the police expect more arrests.

The men were scheduled to be arraigned this morning in Third District Court, Warwick, according to the police.

Matthew McGowan, 22, of Warwick, was shot in the lower torso during the incident. McGowan was listed in serious condition Monday, according to a spokeswoman fro Rhode Island Hospital.

The police, who were called to McGowan's residence at 8 King St. at 11:14 p.m. Wednesday for a report of shots fired, saw and chased two males who were running from the multi-family building. They did not apprehend the men after what the police say was a short chase.

The police do not believe the shooting in the Pontiac neighborhood was a random act, but rather the home was a specific target.

Witnesses have told the police that two men knocked on the door and forced their way into the apartment. In an ensuing struggle with McGowan and his wife, shots were fired from what the the police believe is a large-caliber weapon, according to the police.

 Tags  arrests house invasion Warwick RI

Comments

Concerned Citizen said:

I have to wonder... what are the circumstances involved here... being that one of the suspects resided at the same address one has to assume that this is drug related. Where is the landlord here? What is the town doing to clean up this street? Let's start holding the landlords responsible for who they choose to rent to.

Link | November 2, 2009 12:05 PM
Report Abuse

---

mp775 said:

It's a two family house; the assailant was the victim's downstairs neighbor. I don't see how that suggests that it's "drug related." It's also a quiet neighborhood that doesn't need any more "cleaning up" now that these perps have been caught.

Link | November 2, 2009 2:48 PM
Report Abuse

---

Johnny Walton said:

People make notion of the drugs because of the individuals track history. They do not just pull stuff out of the air. The "victim" may not have been a model citizen as reporters often try to make people look to be.

Link | November 2, 2009 6:33 PM
Report Abuse

---

I_Never said:

This is to mp775. I wouldn't get so uppity. In case you didn't notice there was a shooting and home invasion, this is just as bad as a drug deal.

Link | November 2, 2009 7:59 PM
Report Abuse

---

chis said:

it's a pretty bad neighborhood with a lot of little kids and a lot of drugs; i dont think anyone deserves what matt and his family are going through... these guys definately need to go to jail and get what they deserve. what does the neighborhood have to do with it? matt is a good kid.. he takes care of his family and has a young son... he was really starting to clean upa nd do good and then this happens to him. he's been through a lot so don't talk like he's some gangster punk when you dont know him okay BYE

Link | November 5, 2009 12:29 AM
Report Abuse

---

Leave a comment

Please be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish.

Name:

Email:

URL:  

Remember personal info?

Captcha:

Type the characters you see in the picture above.