Fourth Man Sentenced In 2021 Providence Shooting That Wounded 9

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island Attorney General's Office announced a state prison sentence for a fourth Providence man who was involved in the 2021 Carolina Avenue shooting which injured nine people.

Ricardo Cosme Tejada, 21, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon,discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, resulting in injury, conspiracy to commit assault with a dangerous weapon, conspiracy to discharge a firearm during a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a license, and conspiracy to carry a pistol without a license.

Some of those crimes also included a gang enhancement, which allows for heavier sentencing of a crime, according to Rhode Island law.

Tejada is the fourth person sentenced in relation to the shooting.

George Rios, 19, Jordanny Britto, 21, and Reynaldo Rivera, 20, all entered guilty pleas to multiple weapons and conspiracy charges, including two with gang enhancements.

Rios and Britto were sentenced to a total of 32 years, with 12 years to serve and 20 years suspended with probation, which is nonparolable if violated. Rivera was sentenced to a total of 30 years, with 10 years to serve and 20 years suspended with probation.

According to court documents, the shooting happened just before 6:45 p.m. on May 13.

Prosecutors said Rios, Cosme Tejada, Rivera, and Britto, members of the "Get Money Family" gang, drove in a Dodge Ram pick-up to a home on Carolina Avenue. All of them jumped out of the truck armed with pistols and shot at several people associated with the "Lakeside" gang, who members were outside the home on the front porch, prosecutors said.

Four people on the porch were wounded, including David Carides Jr. Prosecutors said Daniel Carides and a juvenile returned fire. Rios, Cosme Tejada, Rivera, and Britto were all wounded.

Rios, Cosme Tejada, Rivera, and Britto then jumped back into their truck and sped away, prosecutors said. As the truck drove away, Daniel Carides shot at it, according to court documents. All those shot were treated at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence.

Following the shooting, investigators said they collected 51 shell casings near the house, as well as bullets that went into a home across the street. Police searched the house where the shooting took place and said they found several guns with obliterated serial numbers, marijuana and psilocin.

Read more: 6 Providence Men Charged In Gang Shooting That Injured 9

"The shootings we have seen in Providence over the last several months have been driven by several things: the wide availability of illegal guns, the number of rounds being fired and the use in many instances of high-capacity magazines, and people too willing to resolve often inconsequential disputes at the point of a gun," said Neronha.

"These three individuals turned a peaceful Providence neighborhood into their own personal shooting range. Such conduct is incredibly dangerous, far too often deadly, and remains a principal focus of our prosecutorial resources. The long sentences imposed by the court here should send a strong message that gun violence will bring the most serious consequences."

Neronha said the state had enough evidence to win the case had it gone to trial.

Ghost Gun

Tejada also pled guilty to possession of a ghost gun in a separate case stemming from his arrest by the Rhode Island State Police in April 2021.

Officials said the arrest followed a traffic stop on Route 95 in Providence. Following a search of the vehicle, troopers located a Polymer80 .40 caliber semi-automatic ghost gun pistol with a 10-round magazine loaded with eight rounds.