A tragic shooting claimed the life of a 33-year-old woman in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, as she was gunned down near her workplace. The victim, identified as Jocelyn A. DoCouto from Central Falls, was fatally shot multiple times, with the Pawtucket Police Department responding to the incident shortly after 8 p.m. on Friday evening. Michael J. Fernandes, 34, also of Pawtucket, has been tagged with several charges in connection to the murder which appears to stem from a domestic dispute, according to details shared by the Pawtucket police on NBC10 Boston affiliate WJAR.
Officers were dispatched to the scene at 430 Central Avenue to investigate reports of gunshots. Upon arrival, they discovered DoCouto, who was pronounced dead on the scene. At least four bullet casings were visible on the ground outside the beauty salon, situated at 440 Central Avenue, where she was possibly leaving work when the shooting occurred. A grey SUV was reported to have been seen to quickly leave the area. Police have emphasized that there was no ongoing threat to the public, indicating that they had a person of interest in custody on Friday, as mentioned in WJAR's report.
Fernandes faces multiple charges including domestic murder, unlawful discharge of a firearm resulting in death, carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large capacity feeding device, and violating a domestic contact order. Authorities have yet to piece together the complete series of events leading up to this heinous crime, but the charge of domestic murder suggests a personal connection to the victim.
Fernandes is scheduled to be arraigned at Providence District Court on Monday. Witness reports and further details of the event remain to be disclosed. As the community reels from the shock, the question remains as to what could've been done to prevent this terrible loss. The information regarding Fernandes' arraignment was confirmed by local news outlet WPRI.
