Norwich Man Guilty Of 1st-Degree Murder In 2020 Slaying Of Cousin

PROVIDENCE, RI — In the winter of 2020, Louis Seignious, then 31, shot and killed his cousin, Vincent Sebastian III, then 28, in Westerly, Rhode Island, a Washington County (RI) Superior Court jury decided.

Seignious, now 33, was found guilty of first-degree murder, carrying a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, and domestic breaking and entering. After a 14-day trial, the jury returned the verdict after approximately two days of deliberation, according to Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha and court records.

It was in the late afternoon on Jan. 25 when Westerly Police were dispatched to the town's North End neighborhood for a report of a shooting. When officers arrived, they found Sebastian with a single gunshot wound to his chest. Westerly Ambulance medics performed life-saving measures, but Sebastian, who lived in Ledyard, was pronounced dead at the scene. Seignious and Sebastian were cousins.

“In 2020, this defendant violently took the life of Mr. Sebastian in a senseless act of domestic rage and jealousy,” Neronha said. “Nothing can bring Mr. Sebastian back to his family and friends, but I hope that this verdict delivers a measure of justice for them. The defendant now faces a state prison sentence of great length. Secured in the place far into the future, he will be unable to harm anyone else, whether at the point of a gun or otherwise. I am grateful for the jury’s verdict, and to the men and women of the Westerly Police Department for their outstanding work, in this case and in so many others.”

During the trial, according to Neronha, the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Seigniousshot and killed his cousin. Earlier that day, Seignious threatened Sebastian after he learned that his cousin was romantically involved with a woman that he had previously dated and with whom he shared a child.

Following these threats, Seignious drove to the Westerly house where Sebastian was, went in the front door uninvited and shot his cousin once in the chest.

During the trial, it was learned that though shot, "Sebastian was able to force the defendant out of the home by pushing the front door closed." Moments later, Sebastian collapsed and died. And Seignious took off. For a week, he eluded capture as police from Westerly and several Connecticut jurisdictions, including Ledyard, Groton Town, Groton City, Norwich and the Mashantucket Tribal Police, hunted him. He was eventually captured by Groton City police.

Seignious is currently being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston, RI, pending a sentencing hearing scheduled on Nov. 29 in Washington County Superior Court.

Patch covered the case. Read the full story here.

“I applaud the investigative efforts of the Westerly Police Department, including our detective division, and the Attorney General’s office for bringing the defendant to justice,” Westerly Police Chief Paul J. Gingerella said. “Our community is safer today now that the defendant has been found guilty and will ultimately be sentenced to a significant amount of time in prison.”

Assistant Attorney General Mark Trovato of the Office of the Attorney General and Detective Sergeant Dana Gervasini and Detective Sergeant David Turano (retired) of the Westerly Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.

Read more from Patch about the murder of Sebastian here >>

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