Woonsocket Radio News Room

 

Providence man pleads guilty to 2021 Pawtucket murder

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Providence man has plead guilty in Providence County Superior Court to the 2021 murder of Leonardo Tavares.

 

At a hearing on August 15, 2024, before Superior Court Justice Maureen B. Keough, Jahcolin Rodrigues (age 23) plead guilty to one count of first-degree murder and one count of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle.

 

The defendant remains held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for September 9, 2024.

 

Had the case proceeded to a trial, the State was prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that on May 15, 2021, the defendant shot and killed Leonardo Tavares on Randall Street in Pawtucket.

 

“One fatal act of gun violence yields so much suffering, forever changing the lives of those who cared for the victim,” said Attorney General Neronha. “It is my hope that by holding accountable violent criminals, like this defendant, we help deter others from committing similar acts of violence. Additionally, I want to thank the Pawtucket Police for their partnership in this case and so many others.”

 

On the afternoon of May 15, 2021, the defendant spotted Leonardo Tavares while driving through Pawtucket in a Subaru Impreza. After circling the block, the defendant fired multiple shots into Tavares’ Nissan Rogue, killing the victim. Several witnesses positively identified the defendant from video surveillance footage of the crime obtained by Pawtucket detectives.

 

The defendant had an ongoing feud with members and affiliates of the Bucket West street gang; the defendant believed that the victim was affiliated with Bucket West.

 

“I want to thank Detective Barrett and Sergeant Gould for their hard work on this case,” said Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves “Gun violence has no place in our communities, and the Pawtucket Police Department will continue to work hand in hand with the Attorney General’s Office to ensure that violent criminals are brought to justice.”

 

Special Assistant Attorneys General Alison Bittl and Edward G. Mullaney of the Office of the Attorney General and Detective Ethan Barrett and Sergeant Justin Gould of the Pawtucket Police Department, along with the assistance of Providence Police Intelligence Detectives Matthew McGloin and Jonathan Desmarais, led the investigation and prosecution of the case.

 

 

President Trump says the tariffs imposed on other countries are having the desired effect, and he's now open to negotiations. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said his initial tariff plan is over, and he's watching it settle in. He said every country has called, asking to cut a trade deal with the U.S. to avoid the tariffs.        Stocks are closing sharply lower one day after President Trump announced sweeping global tariffs. The S&P 500 had its worse day since 2020 as the White House announced a baseline tariff rate of ten-percent against most countries yesterday that will go into effect on Saturday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 16-79 to 40-545. The S&P 500 lost 274 points to 53-96. The Nasdaq lost 10-50 points to 16-550.        A multi-day severe weather event is unfolding for more than 55-million people. It comes after at least seven people were killed in the South Central U.S. after storms that included several tornadoes hit the region yesterday. Tonight, there is still a tornado threat for the same areas, but forecasters warn there could also be potentially catastrophic flooding in the Mid-South and Midwest.        The Federal Aviation Administration is offering more support to air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport. The Critical Incident Stress Management team will be meeting with airport personnel sometime early this month. The FAA is also reviewing the arrival rate at the airport and will conduct regular wellness checks.        The Senate has confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The television personality was confirmed on a party-line vote of 53-45. Oz now assumes a role that provides health insurance to roughly 160 million Americans.        Steven Spielberg and George Lucas top the latest Forbes list of celebrity billionaires. The latest Forbes ranking of the world's wealthiest people includes 18 celebrities, with film director Steven Spielberg topping the list at five-point-three-billion dollars. Star Wars creator George Lucas is in second place with a net worth of five-point-one-billion dollars.       

Old News Archives