Allegedly shot another teen in retaliation for bumping into him

By RUSS OLIVO

PROVIDENCE — A 17-year-old boy from Woonsocket has been indicted in the 2008 shooting death of another teenager in Providence’s Smith Hill section — allegedly in retaliation for bumping into him on the sidewalk.

A Providence County grand jury returned indictments Thursday against Somesack “Sunny” Phonepraseuth in the June 30, 2008 shooting death of Jeffrey Lopez, 19, according to a statement from Michael Healey, spokesman for the attorney general.
Phonepraseuth, whose last known address was 295 Amirault St., Woonsocket, allegedly shot a second person, Carlos Javier, 19, during the same incident. Javier was injured, but he recovered from his wounds.
Although Phonepraseuth is a minor,  he is to be tried as an adult in Superior Court because a Family Court judge earlier agreed to a request from prosecutors to waive jurisdiction in the matter, citing the seriousness of the allegations Phonepraseuth is facing.
Phonepraseuth is charged with first-degree murder; discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence resulting in death; assault with a dangerous weapon on Javier; discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence resulting in injury to Javier; committing a crime of violence while armed with a dangerous weapon resulting in murder; and carrying a handgun without a license.
According to Healey, a conviction on a charge of first-degree murder carries a mandatory life sentence. Discharging a firearm during the commission of a violent crime would carry an additional consecutive term of 20 years — an obligatory add-on that the judge would have no discretion to amend.
Phonepraseuth, who has been held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions since Feb. 24, is to be arraigned in Superior Court on Aug. 12, according to Healey.