RI Woman Convicted Of Assaulting, Shooting At Pregnant Woman

PAWTUCKET, RI — A Pawtucket woman was found guilty after prosecutors in Kent County Superior Court proved she attacked a pregnant woman and shot a gun outside her West Warwick home in 2020.

Celena Vieira, 29, on Thursday was found guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, vandalism, larceny under $1,500 and disorderly conduct. Vieira was ordered held without bail until sentencing on Nov. 18.

"There is nothing that can excuse the defendant’s behavior in this case — nothing," Attorney General Peter Neronha said in a statement. "Threatening any person with a firearm is one thing, but threatening a pregnant woman is another, for obvious reasons. And then to fire the weapon while this pregnant woman attempted to flee is just outrageous criminal misconduct. Now convicted of the crimes charged, the defendant deserves to be sentenced to a lengthy term of imprisonment. She has forfeited the right to walk freely among us."

Prosecutors proved that on Nov. 14, 2020, the defendant started a fight with the victim before pointing a loaded Ruger 357 magnum revolver gun at the victim and firing multiple shots. The victim was about 16 weeks pregnant.

While the victim turned and ran away towards her home, the Vieira shot at the victim several times. The defendant then picked up the victim’s cell phone, which she had dropped as she ran away, before speeding away in her car.

West Warwick police responded to the victim’s home and alerted Rhode Island law enforcement agencies to be on the lookout for the defendant’s car. Investigators found bullet damage to a car parked in the victim’s driveway.

Less than one hour later, members of the Pawtucket Police Department apprehended the defendant while in possession of the Ruger revolver, which she was not licensed to carry, as well as the victim’s cell phone.