Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that today Anthony Short (age 19), of Providence, pleaded nolo contendere to assault and firearm charges before Superior Court Justice Daniel A. Procaccini. Under the terms of the plea agreement, Short was sentenced to a total of 23 years with 13 years to serve and the remainder suspended with probation, of which is not subject to parole.
Had the case proceeded to trial, the State was prepared to prove that on April 30, 2015, after getting into an argument with his girlfriend at a residence located at 35 Redwing Street, Providence, the defendant went outside and fired a .357 magnum twice into the residence. His girlfriend and another resident of the building were not injured.
The defendant fled the scene and was captured a short time later by Providence Police who had been alerted that a man fitting the description of the defendant was seen walking through the neighborhood with a firearm. Police recovered the firearm.
"A young man, heated over an argument with his girlfriend, armed with an illegal firearm, and shooting it into an occupied residence are the ingredients for a recipe for disaster and tragedy," said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. "These types of incidents happen much too often, and the common factor is each is an illegal firearm. Thankfully, no one was killed or injured this time, but it is another example of why we need to get illegal firearms off our streets."
Providence Police Detective Jonathan Primiano led the investigation and Special Assistant Attorney General Joseph McBurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.