Crime & Safety
Police Charge 3 in Murder Of 17-Year-Old Woonsocket Girl
Woonsocket police have charged an adult and two juveniles, with one more adult under investigation, in the murder of NyAsia Williams-Thomas.
WOONSOCKET, RI — Woonsocket police have charged three people with first-degree murder —with a fourth suspect under investigation — in the killing of 17-year-old NyAsia Williams-Thomas on Village Road on Wednesday. Jose Ortiz Martinez, 18, of Woonsocket, and two juvenile suspects, have been charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.
Woonsocket officials held a press conference Friday afternoon to update the public on the investigation into the shooting death of Williams-Thomas. She was found slumped behind the wheel of her car Wednesday night and pronounced dead at Landmark Medical Center a short time later.
"We're confident that these are the individuals responsible," Woonsocket Police Chief Thomas Oates said.
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Oates said a 14-year-old boy who was in the car Williams-Thomas was driving is believed to have been the intended victim. Oates said he has cooperated with police "to an extent." The juvenile and an adult woman also in the car with Williams-Thomas at the time of the shooting were uninjured.
Police said in a statement released Thursday that the car Williams-Thomas was driving may have been targeted, but her shooting may have have been a case of mistaken identity.
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"It's tragic that this poor girl lost her life in a senseless act of violence," Oates said.
Oates said there may be additional charges forthcoming and that because it is still a very active investigation that police are limited in what information they can share publicly. He said that everyone charged thus far was at the scene of the shooting Wednesday night and that it is unclear if the victim knew the suspects in any way.
Oates urged anyone else involved in the shooting to come forward voluntarily to Woonsocket police.
"We will find you," Oates said.
Staff writer Rachel Nunes is on scene at the press conference in Woonsocket. Patch will have more on this story as it develops.
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