Springfield detectives played a key supporting role this week in a multi-state takedown tied to a violent highway shooting in Providence, according to city police. Firearms investigators from Springfield joined federal and state partners to arrest a Springfield man as part of a broader sweep across Massachusetts and Rhode Island linked to a Dec. 29 drive-by that left at least one person shot and triggered a three-car crash on I-95. Authorities say the suspects were picked up in coordinated early-morning operations and are now in state custody while court proceedings are arranged.
In a press release, the Rhode Island State Police said 26-year-old Zachary Martins has been charged with drive-by shootings, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, conspiracy and related offenses, and is being held in Massachusetts pending extradition to Rhode Island. The release notes that 23-year-old Jamari Bell of Cranston and 20-year-old Troy Torres of Providence were also charged, with Bell additionally facing counts of possession with intent to deliver fentanyl and cocaine. Investigators said they seized ammunition, firearm magazines and digital evidence that they believe connect the suspects to the highway shooting.
In a Facebook post, the Springfield Police Department said its Firearms Investigation Unit and Warrant Apprehension Section teamed up with Rhode Island State Police and federal partners to arrest Martins on the 300 block of Main Street in the Indian Orchard neighborhood. Springfield officials said detectives coordinated with the Massachusetts State Police, the Hampden County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Marshals Service to carry out the operation. The department shared photos from the scene that show detectives alongside marked cruisers.
How Authorities Say The I-95 Shooting Unfolded
State police say the investigation traces back to a Dec. 29 encounter on I-95 in Providence, when people inside one vehicle allegedly opened fire on another, cutting loose about 19 rounds and striking the second vehicle roughly 10 times. Both vehicles then crashed near the Smithfield Avenue off-ramp, according to investigators. Multiple occupants suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and officials say one person drove themself to the hospital. Detectives used digital evidence to identify suspects and then executed arrest and search warrants with help from the Massachusetts State Police, the ATF and local departments, according to WPRI.
Legal Proceedings And Next Steps
The Rhode Island State Police said the arrested suspects were processed at State Police Headquarters. According to the release, Torres and Carvalho were taken to the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) Intake Center, where they are being held pending arraignment in Sixth Division District Court. Martins, arrested in Massachusetts, is being held there while extradition proceedings to Rhode Island move forward. Court dates have not yet been posted.
Indian Orchard Context
Springfield's Indian Orchard neighborhood has been dealing with a run of recent gun incidents. Earlier this month, two teenagers were wounded in a separate Main Street shooting that also left a home and a business hit by bullets, as reported by Western Mass News and in coverage of teenagers wounded in Springfield shooting. City detectives say cross-jurisdictional cooperation has been essential for tracking suspects who move between Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
Investigators have asked anyone with information to contact the Rhode Island State Police Major Crimes Unit or Springfield police. Springfield's Facebook post linked above includes the department’s full statement on the arrests and the multi-agency response. Officials say the investigation is still active and that additional details are expected to be released as charges are formally filed and court dates set.
