On the evening of February 26, 2026, in Cranston, Rhode Island, 35-year-old Javon Lawson was fatally shot at his home on Legion Way. At approximately 8:34 p.m., individuals inside the residence heard loud banging at a side door. When Lawson went to investigate the noise, multiple gunshots were fired from outside, striking him several times. Family members who were present attempted to provide aid, and emergency services were called.
Paramedics transported Lawson to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased shortly after 9:00 p.m.
Investigators at the scene recovered shell casings both inside and outside the doorway, indicating the shooter had fired through the door. A review of surveillance footage from nearby residences revealed a male subject dressed in dark clothing and wearing a mask approaching Lawson's home just before the shooting and fleeing immediately after. The suspect was seen running to a white Infiniti sedan parked on a nearby street, which then quickly left the area.
A Flock license plate reader captured the Infiniti's license plate, which was registered to 28-year-old Demitri Sousa of Seekonk, Massachusetts. Further investigation and witness interviews established Sousa as the primary suspect. Investigators learned of a prior dispute between Sousa and Lawson concerning a mutual female acquaintance.
In the early hours of the following morning, at approximately 12:45 a.m., Massachusetts authorities took Sousa into custody. His capture came after he was involved in a high-speed motor vehicle crash in Swansea, Massachusetts, which resulted in the deaths of two other individuals. Sousa sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and was transported to a hospital, where he was held in the custody of the Cranston Police. Inside Sousa's vehicle, authorities discovered a. 22-caliber pistol believed to be the weapon used in Lawson's murder, and additional ammunition was found on his person at the hospital. An arrest warrant was issued for Sousa, charging him with murder, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. He is expected to be arraigned on these charges upon being medically cleared.
