Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

Providence man sentenced to serve 14 years in state prison for role in May 2021 shootout in Providence that wounded nine

 

Defendant also convicted of possessing a ghost gun

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Providence man was sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve 14 years at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) after pleading to multiple felony charges stemming from his role in a May 2021 gang-related shooting that wounded nine people on Carolina Avenue in Providence, and for possessing a ghost gun in a separate incident.

 

For his role in the shooting on Carolina Avenue, Ricardo Cosme Tejada (age 21) entered a plea of guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, with a Criminal Street Gang Enhancement; discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, resulting in injury; conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon, with a Criminal Street Gang Enhancement; conspiracy to discharge a firearm during a crime of violence; carrying a pistol without a license; and conspiracy to carry a pistol without a license.

 

The defendant also entered a plea of guilty to possession of a ghost gun in a separate case stemming from his arrest by the Rhode Island State Police in April 2021.

 

At a hearing on July 27, 2022, before Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause, the Court sentenced the defendant to 14 years to serve at the ACI followed by a 20-year suspended sentence with 20 years of probation for his role in the Carolina Avenue shooting. The 20-year suspended sentence is non-parolable if the defendant were to violate it. The Court also sentenced the defendant to a concurrent sentence of five years, with two years to serve at the ACI followed by a three-year suspended sentence with probation, for possession of a ghost gun.

 

“While the Carolina Ave. shooting presents as an egregious example of gun violence in Rhode Island, it shares key characteristics that we have seen in many other shooting incidents since then: the wide availability of illegal guns, the number of rounds being fired, and the use in many instances of high-capacity magazines and ghost guns,” said Attorney General Neronha. “The defendant was part of a group that that turned a peaceful Providence neighborhood into their own personal shooting range. The long sentence imposed by the court here should send a strong message that gun violence will bring the most serious consequences. The work of our law enforcement partners was exemplary during these cases, and I am grateful for their continuing partnership with this Office.”

 

Carolina Avenue

 

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that on the evening of May 13, 2021, the defendant, along with three co-defendants, shot and wounded members of a rival gang in a shootout outside of a home on Carolina Avenue.

 

At approximately 6:47 p.m., members of the Providence Police Department responded to a report of multiple shots fired and multiple shooting victims. Ricardo Cosme Tejada, George Rios, Reynaldo Rivera, and Jordanny Britto, members of the “Get Money Family” gang, drove in a Dodge Ram pick-up truck to the home at 87 Carolina Avenue, where all of them jumped out of the truck brandishing pistols. They then fired at multiple individuals associated with the “Lakeside” gang, who were positioned on the front porch of the home.

 

In total, four people on the porch were wounded when the gunmen opened fire, including David Carides Jr. At least two people, including Daniel Carides and an unindicted juvenile co-conspirator, returned fire from the home at Ricardo Cosme Tejada, George Rios, Reynaldo Rivera, and Jordanny Britto, who were all wounded.

 

Ricardo Cosme Tejada and his co-defendants then jumped back into their truck to flee the scene. As the truck fled, Daniel Carides exited the home and fired a pistol at the truck as it drove away in the direction of Allens Avenue.

 

Ricardo Cosme Tejada and his co-defendants transported themselves to Rhode Island Hospital. The other four victims also sought treatment for their wounds at Rhode Island Hospital.

 

Following the incident, investigators collected approximately 51 spent shell casings of various calibers, and which were fired from multiple guns, on the road and on the property at 87 Carolina Avenue. They also seized bullets that went into a home across the street. Fortunately, no one inside that home was injured.

 

Subsequently, investigators executed a search warrant at 87 Carolina Avenue and seized more than 500 rounds of ammunition in various calibers as well as 12 pistol and rifle magazines, including twenty (1), thirty (4), forty (2) and sixty (1) round magazines. There were also multiple magazines recovered that held between 10-20 rounds. Investigators also seized multiple firearms, including a: 9mm ghost gun pistol; Smith and Wesson M&P 15 semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number; Sig Sauer P229 9mm semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number; Beretta 9mm semi-automatic handgun; Polymer80 PF.45 caliber ghost gun pistol; Glock 26 9mm semi-automatic handgun with an obliterated serial number; Polymer80 semi-automatic handgun, rifle, and two BB guns.

 

Investigators also seized amounts of marijuana, THC, and Psilocin from the home.

 

“The defendant in this case terrorized a peaceful neighborhood because of gang retaliation and the City is a safer place with the criminals involved in this incident behind bars,” said Providence Commissioner of Public Safety Steven M. Paré. “I am grateful for the excellent work conducted by the members of the Providence Police Department and the prosecutors from the R.I. Attorney General’s Office and appreciate the sentencing by Judge Krause. The defendant will now serve a lengthy sentence as a result of his violent actions involving a firearm.”

 

“I commend the members of the Providence Police Department and the R.I. Attorney General's Office for their investigation and prosecution in this case and their commitment to removing violent criminals from our streets,” said Providence Police Chief  Colonel Hugh T. Clements, Jr., “This case serves as yet another example of the ongoing working partnership between the PPD and the R.I. Attorney General's Office, resulting in the defendant serving a lengthy sentence for taking part in a senseless act of violence in an otherwise quiet neighborhood.”

 

Previously, the defendant did not appear for a court hearing on June 22, 2022, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The Department of Corrections reported that he removed his home confinement bracelet. The defendant was arrested several days later, on June 29, 2022. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced on July 27, 2022.

 

Co-defendants George Rios Jordanny Britto, and Reynaldo Rivera each pleaded guilty to their roles in the shooting and were sentenced on June 29, 2022 to significant sentences at the ACI.

 

Daniel Carides pleaded guilty to his role in the shooting and was sentenced to six years, with 18- months to serve at the ACI with a four and a half-year suspended sentence with probation. David Carides Jr. pleaded guilty to his role in the shooting and was sentenced to 10 years, with two years to serve at the ACI with an eight-year suspended sentence with probation.

 

Detective Theodore Michael of the Providence Police Department and Assistant Attorney General Joseph J. McBurney of the Office of the Attorney General conducted the investigation and prosecution of the case.

 

 

Ghost gun

 

Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that on the morning of April 24, 2021, the defendant was arrested for possession of a ghost gun by the Rhode Island State Police, following a traffic stop on Route 95 in Providence. Following a search of the vehicle, troopers located a Polymer80 .40 caliber semi-automatic ghost gun pistol with a 10-round magazine loaded with eight rounds.

 

Corporal Mark McGehearty and Trooper Michael Goduto of the Rhode Island State Police and Assistant Attorney General Joseph J. McBurney of the Office of the Attorney General conducted the investigation and prosecution of the case.