Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that Willie Washington (age 38), aka "Chill Will," with a last known address of 9 Village Road, Smithfield, was sentenced today by Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause to 60 years to serve, 20 of which are non-paroleable.
Washington was found guilty by a jury in December of carrying a firearm without a license, discharge of a firearm while committing a crime of violence, possession of a firearm after previously being convicted of a crime of violence, and felony assault.
During the course of the trial, the State proved that at approximately 1:00 a.m. on November 15, 2014, a Volvo SUV in which Washington was a passenger pulled up behind a parked Hyundai on Huxley Avenue on the Providence College campus. The Hyundai was operated by Rudy Basquez, Jr., who was making a food delivery to a nearby residence. The driver of the Volvo beeped his horn to indicate that the Hyundai should move, and Basquez confronted the operators of the SUV. Washington stepped out of the vehicle and opened fire, striking Basquez in the arm with a bullet.
The Volvo SUV then fled the scene. Providence Police obtained a description of the vehicle from witnesses and, after running the plates, traced it to Washington. Shortly afterwards, officers stopped a different vehicle on Admiral Street in Providence in connection with this investigation. At that time, the front-seat passenger, later identified as Willie Washington, jumped out of the vehicle and ran. After a brief chase, Providence Police apprehended Washington in a nearby driveway.
"This is yet another case of a violent individual armed with an illegal firearm seriously injuring an innocent person and wreaking havoc in our community," said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. "The defendant has a long history of violence and has shown little interest in rehabilitation. Today's sentence is appropriate for someone like the defendant who has no regard for the law or for others." Washington has four prior convictions for firearms, drug tracking and assault on a law enforcement officer.
Providence Police Detective Alicia Hersperger led the investigation. Special Assistant Attorneys General Peter Roklan and Joseph McBurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.