RI Man Sentenced For Shooting At Police Officer, Armed Robbery

PROVIDENCE, RI — A Providence man will serve 23 years in prison Wednesday after being convicted of shooting at a police officer after robbing a convenience store at gunpoint.

Roberto Cruz Rivera, 30, pleaded nolo contendere to first-degree robbery, discharge of a firearm during a robbery, assault with a dangerous weapon on a police officer, discharge of a firearm while committing an assault on a police officer, and carrying a pistol without a license.

Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause sentenced Rivera to 53 years with 23 years to serve at the ACI and a 30-year suspended sentence with 53 years of probation.

"This case demonstrates the enormous danger that large-capacity magazines, that remarkably remain lawful in Rhode Island, and illegal firearms pose to members of the public and law enforcement alike," Attorney General Peter Neronha said in a statement. "This defendant not only brandished a ghost gun during this robbery, but also discharged it, including at a pursuing police officer. The long sentence imposed by the court here should send a strong message that gun violence perpetrated against police and members of the public will bring the most serious consequences."

Had the case proceeded to trial, prosecutors said they were prepared to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that on Oct. 29, 2020, Rivera robbed the 7-Eleven on Smith Street in Providence. Prosecutors said Rivera was in a car driven by co-defendant Jeffrey McKay, and while they were driving, Rivera told McKay he was going to rob the store.

Rivera then entered the store and pointed a gun at the store clerk standing behind the counter. The store clerk emptied $500 out of the cash register and gave it to Rivera. Prosecutors said Rivera fired his gun once at the ground near the store clerk and twice into the ceiling, as he left the store.

A nearby Providence police officer pulled into the parking lot of the 7-Eleven in his marked cruiser after hearing gunshots. When the officer got out of his cruiser, Rivera pointed his gun at the officer and tried to escape, prosecutors said.

As the defendants drove away, the officer chased after them down Ruggles Street, where the Rivera opened the front passenger door of the car and shot at the officer in his cruiser.

The car chase continued down Chad Brown Street, Admiral Street, Charles Street, and Mineral Spring Avenue before the defendants crashed into a median on the Route 146 on-ramp.

Rivera tried to run away, but was caught by officers in the woods.

Police said they recovered a Polymer80 9 mm semi-automatic ghost gun with a 27-round large-capacity magazine underneath the car and an additional magazine inside the car.

"The long jail sentence of this defendant is the result of outstanding police work by the Providence Police Department, excellent work by the prosecutors from the RI Attorney General’s Office, and a strong message from Judge Krause that if you use a gun and shoot at police, there are severe consequences for such criminal behavior," said Steven M. Paré, the Providence Commissioner of Public Safety.

The case against McKay is pending in Providence County Superior Court.