Missing Gun Recovered From September Newport Shooting

NEWPORT, RI—Police arrested two homeless 17-year-old youths on Wednesday around 9 p.m. Officers also recovered a Jimenez Arms 9 mm handgun with a magazine and 12 9-mm rounds of ammunition. The gun is believed to be the missing firearm used in a September 2 drive-by shooting at the Newport Heights Housing Development. The juveniles are from Newport but are not being identified due to their age, police said.

According to the arrest report, Detective Ryan Doyle learned three youths were driving from Providence to Newport to deliver the gun to Jalil Nelson. Nelson was arrested on Sept. 3 for firing at a 22-year-old man. There was an ongoing dispute between the two, police said. Nelson, then 18, initially hit the man with his car and then returned and started shooting. The bullets missed the mark but went into a fence and a house.

Middletown police arrested Nelson moments later when he drove into Coddington Point on Maple Avenue. The victim was treated at the hospital for non life-threatening injuries related to the car. According to the Patch account last September, "Nelson was charged with four counts of assault with a deadly weapon, discharge of a firearm from a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident resulting in personal injury. He also was charged with violating a no-contact order."

But the gun was not found until Wednesday night. Detective Ryan also had obtained information about the car the juveniles were driving, and it was spotted leaving the Newport Pell Bridge ramp for Connell Highway. A patrol officer saw three males in the vehicle. Then the rear passenger side door opened, and one youth leapt out. Police gave chase, and an officer caught the juvenile at the RK Town Center.

The officer tackled the youth who then said he had a gun in his pocket.

Meanwhile, the vehicle with the other two youths fled. Police located it on Kay Street near Rhode Island Avenue and ultimately stopped it at Kay and Gibbs Avenue, making a so-called felony car stop.

Two males, both 17, were charged in connection with the incident. The charges are:

Possession of a firearm by a minor, a felony;

Possession of ammunition by a minor, a felony;

Possession of a stolen firearm, a felony;

Obstructing an officer in the execution of duty, a misdemeanor; and

Three counts of conspiracy, all felonies.

The youth that led police on a foot chase was also charged with marijuana possession, 1 oz. or less by a person under age.