Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin announced that today a Providence County Superior Court Jury found Gregory Hampton-Boyd (age 26), of Boston, guilty of first degree robbery, discharge of a firearm during a crime of violence, assault with a dangerous weapon, carrying a pistol without a license, and possession of a firearm having been previously convicted of a crime of violence. The jury returned the guilty verdict after one day of deliberations after a seven-day trial before Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause.
During the trial, the State proved that in the early morning hours of April 8, 2017, Hampton-Boyd approached a male outside Club Masherrati in Providence where, at gunpoint, he demanded the victim give him the gold chain he was wearing. When the victim refused to give the defendant his chain, the defendant shot him three times and grabbed it from his neck.
The defendant fled the scene in a motor vehicle driven by co-conspirator Jason Aparico (age 33), of Boston. Providence Police, who were in the area at the time, began to pursue the motor vehicle. To evade police, the defendant jumped from the moving vehicle and began to flee on foot. As he exited the vehicle, the defendant dropped the gold chain and a .40 caliber pistol, and one of his Air Jordan sneakers came off his feet. Police continued to pursue the defendant on foot and apprehended him a short time later.
Aparicio abandoned the car and eluded police. During a search of the vehicle, police found a .380 Ruger firearm in plain sight on the front seat. DNA evidence and fingerprints were taken from inside the vehicle. Aparicio was apprehended in Boston approximately five months later.
Responding to reports of a gunshot victim at Rhode Island Hospital, officers spoke with the victim who gave a description of Hampton-Boyd and later identified the defendant from a photo array as the individual responsible for the robbery and shooting.
Aparicio has pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon, possession of a firearm without a license, and possession of a firearm having been previously convicted of a crime of violence. He is awaiting sentencing.
Providence Police Detective Jonathan Primiano led the investigation and Special Assistant Attorney General John Perrotta prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.