A man was shot Wednesday morning at Sabin Point Waterfront Park in East Providence and rushed to the hospital with a gunshot wound, according to police. Officers responded to a shooting report at the park in the city's Riverside neighborhood, and detectives have been working to piece together what happened.
According to wpri.com, one man was taken to the hospital with a gunshot wound, though the circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. East Providence police told WJAR that one person was injured in the shooting, and officials said the victim was taken to Rhode Island Hospital after sustaining gunshot wounds.
Detectives from the department's major crimes and BCI divisions were responding to the scene, per the same wpri.com report. Police told NBC 10 that multiple potential suspects were in custody, though the circumstances and motive behind the shooting have not been detailed.
Police Say No Danger to the Public
Despite the shooting, authorities moved quickly to reassure residents near the waterfront park. Police said there was no threat to the community at the time, the outlet's report noted, even as investigators continued working the scene.
East Providence police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call 401-435-7600.
A Pattern of Gun Violence Cases in East Providence
Sabin Point isn't the only recent flashpoint for gunfire in East Providence. In a case detailed by turnto10.com, police said an armed robbery was reported near James Street around 9 a.m. on a Tuesday, during which shots were fired at the victim; three men, including one from Providence and two from New York, were ultimately arrested in that case.
Separately, a December 2023 drive-by shooting and police pursuit in East Providence resulted in a felony conviction earlier this year. Joshua Pavao pleaded no contest to three felony charges, including drive-by shooting, carrying a pistol without a license, and leaving the scene of a crash that caused injury, after fleeing from police following a shooting, according to the outlet's report. A judge sentenced Pavao to four years in state prison, with the remaining balance of his sentence suspended and probation to follow.
No further details about the Sabin Point shooting, including the identity or condition of the man who was hospitalized, have been released as the investigation continues.
