Providence Man Gets 30-Year Sentence For Shooting At Police Officer

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Providence man was sentenced Monday to 30 years in state prison after admitting he shot at a Providence police officer with an AR-15-style ghost gun following a domestic assault against a woman in 2021, Attorney General Peter Neronha's said.

On. Jan. 17, 2023, Luis Roman, 32, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharge of a firearm during an assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, possession of a ghost gun, domestic strangulation, domestic assault with a dangerous weapon, and use of a firearm during domestic assault with a dangerous weapon.

"The defendant’s intent here was clear: To kill or seriously injure a police officer coming to the aid of a victim of domestic abuse," Neronha said. "His conduct merits the harshest of penalties and deserves the decades of imprisonment imposed by court today. I remain enormously grateful to the Providence Police Department for their work in this case and in so many others."

Had the case proceeded to trial, prosecutors said they were prepared to prove that on Aug. 11, 2021, the Roman assaulted a woman at their apartment on Canton Street before shooting at a Providence police officer responding to the scene.

Around 4 a.m., Roman got in an argument with the victim at their apartment. Prosecutors said Roman then pushed, hit and choked the woman. As the victim tried to cal 911, Roman grabbed his gun and struck the woman with it several times. But during the assault, Roman accidentally dialed 911, prosecutors said.

Roman then walked outside and waited for police to respond. When Providence police Officer Robert Savage arrived, Roman opened fire at Savage's cruiser, prosecutors said.

While being shot at, Savage reversed his cruiser away from Roman. Prosecutors said Roman then shot at least 13 times at Savage, striking his cruiser twice. Roman then ran into his apartment, and out a back door.

Investigators learned Roman hid inside a nearby home on Sears Avenue, and a short time later, he surrendered to police. Prosecutors said police searched Roman's apartment and seized an AR-15-style ghost gun equipped with a large-capacity magazine, a stolen semi-automatic handgun and several boxes of ammunition.

"The men and women of the Providence Police Department put their lives on the line every day to ensure public safety, sometimes stepping into harm's way in the process," Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez said. "I am proud of the work conducted by our officers throughout this investigation, and thank the prosecutors at the office of the attorney general for bringing the defendant to justice."

At a sentencing hearing on Monday, Superior Court Justice Robert Krause sentenced Roman to 70 years, with 30 years to serve at the ACI in Cranston. Ten years of Roman's prison sentence are not eligible for parole.