Coventry Man Strikes Man With Gun, Threatens To Shoot Him: AG

COVENTRY, RI — A Coventry man was charged in Kent County Superior Court after hitting a man in the head with a gun and threatening to shoot him outside JW's Pub, Attorney General Peter Neronha said Monday.

On July 7, Ryan Noel, 36, was charged with assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a firearm without a license, carrying a firearm while under the influence of alcohol, simple assault, and disorderly conduct.

Prosecutors said the assault happened around 7:30 p.m. March 1 in the parking lot of JW's Pub on Washington Street. According to prosecutors Noel and a man got into a fight after leaving the restaurant.

The fight started in Noel's van before moving to the parking lot, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said the victim's girlfriend arrived to pick up her boyfriend. Then, Noel hit her in the face, and when the man came to his girlfriend's aid, Noel threatened to shoot him and struck him over the head with a gun, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors said the woman told police Noel pointed the gun numerous times at the man before placing it back in the van when she said she would call the police.

Police searched the van and found an unloaded Glock 42 semi-automatic handgun inside the van door, prosecutors said.

Noel is scheduled to appear in Kent County Superior Court on Aug. 23 for a pre-trial conference.

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