Providence Man Who Fled To Georgia Indicted On Murder Charge

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Providence man who fled to Georgia while wanted for a February shooting was indicted on a murder charge by the Providence Grand Jury.

Derek Sheppard, 36, was indicted in relation to the shooting death of Bernadette Ortiz in February.

The killing happened on Harold Street just after 11 p.m. on Feb. 9, police said at the time.

Sheppard fled the state after the shooting, but was arrested just days later in a Pooler, Georgia, Walmart parking lot, according to the Providence Journal. Sheppard was considered armed and dangerous at the time of his arrest.

Sheppard was indicted on one count of murder, one count of discharging a firearm while in the commission of a crime of violence, one count of simple assault, and one count of possession of a pistol without a license.

He is scheduled for arraignment on Wednesday.