By VINAYA SAKSENA

CENTRAL FALLS — A local youth accused of fatally shooting a Pawtucket teen in a fight earlier this year is being held without bail pending trial.

Anthony Strobert was arraigned in Providence Superior Court Wednesday on charges of murder, felony assault, discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a permit, according to Craig Berke, a spokesperson for the Rhode Island judiciary.
Strobert, who pleaded not guilty to all charges, was denied bail in light of the murder charge, a capital offense, said Michael Healey, a spokesman for Attorney General Patrick Lynch.
Strobert is behind bars after an April 26 incident in which he and Helder Tomar, both 19, allegedly engaged in a fight in Jenks Park involving a handgun.
Strobert, whose last known address was 24 Mary St., 2nd, Central Falls, suffered a bullet wound and was treated at an area hospital, according to local police. Tomar, meanwhile, was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead from a gunshot wound.
It was initially believed by authorities that Tomar had brought a gun to the scene, with Strobert eventually managing to wrestle control of the gun from him and shoot him.
On Wednesday, however, Healey said it was Strobert who was now believed to have brought the weapon to the scene, hence the unlicensed firearm charge he now faces.
“The facts support the (theory) that Anthony Strobert shot and killed Helder Tomar after Strobert pulled a gun out of his waistband and approached Tomar near Jenks Park,” Healey said. “Based on the information they had, Central Falls police (previously) believed the victim had brought the murder weapon.”
Strobert was indicted by a Providence County Grand Jury three weeks ago, according to Lynch’s office.
The Tomar shooting was the first of two in one weekend that left the city in a state of sadness and fear. A day later, a youth later identified as Central Falls resident Edelmiro Roman was found dead from an apparent gunshot wound, in an incident that police said may have been a form of retaliation for Tomar’s death.
Since then, the city has instituted a 9 p.m. youth curfew and held several events at least partially aimed at ending youth violence.
Strobert, whose arraignment was presided over by Special Magistrate Joseph A. Keough, is due back in Superior Court on July 16 for determination of attorney and status conference. The purpose of the latter proceeding, Healey said, was to allow the defendant to request a bail review, in which he could appeal the automatic denial of bail for a capital offense if he desired.
Strobert is also due in Superior Court on Aug. 4 for a pre-trial conference, according to Berke, though Healey pointed out that this would depend in part on whether or not consideration of bail was requested.