Male, 19, in serious condition after being shot in the back

By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — A 19-year-old city man was seriously injured after being shot in the back while walking near Payne Park Monday night, police said.
According to Detectives Lt. Daniel Mullen, the young man was walking with his male cousin in the vicinity of Randall and Mulberry streets in the city’s Woodlawn section at around 8:30 p.m. when the pair heard gunshots.
Mullen said the victim’s cousin ducked behind some parked cars while victim ran on ahead. He was shot once in the back, apparently by someone in a passing vehicle.
Mullen said the victim, whose name he declined to release, was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was last listed in serious but stable condition.
Police said the victim apparently did not see the vehicle or the shooter, and police have so far not yet recovered any shell casings or other evidence from the scene.
Mullen said, however, that detectives and police officers would be returning to the scene as part of their investigation.
Mullen declined to release any further details related to the case, nor would he speculate as to whether this most recent incident incident was related to the late April shootings of two young men from Pawtucket and Central Falls.
On Saturday, April 26, 19-year-old Helder Tomar of Pawtucket was shot and killed in Jenks Park in Central Falls, allegedly by Anthony Strobert of Central Falls. The next night, Sunday, April 27, 16-year-old Edelmiro Roman of Central Falls was shot fatally while walking near the corner of Dexter and Darling streets, apparently in revenge for Tomar’s murder.
That bloodshed and concerns about additional violence prompted extra security measures in Pawtucket and Central Falls secondary schools, and led Central Falls Mayor Charles Moreau to implement a 9 p.m. curfew for youths under 18.
When implemented, Moreau said the curfew would remain in effect for as long as necessary. Council President William Benson said Tuesday he believed the curfew was working, and that the feedback he had received so far had been positive.
“I haven’t (heard) any negative comments about it,” Benson said. “Everyone (who has commented) wants it to stay in effect, because it’s working. It’s going to be tweaked, though.”
The “tweaked” version of the curfew ordinance, Benson said, would likely ease some of the restrictions established when the curfew was first enacted.
For example, Benson said the police department had requested more latitude with respect to evening events, in order to prevent youths from being penalized upon leaving a school or community function that got out late.
The City Council unanimously endorsed the revised curfew ordinance at its last meeting on May 12, according to Benson. There will be a public hearing on the ordinance before the council votes again; ordinances must be approved by the council twice before they take effect.

With reports from Staff Writer Vinaya Saksena in Central Falls.