A young man is caught in gang crossfire On a warm summer evening in Providence, Rhode Island, what began as a casual backyard basketball game ended in tragedy. Lucinio Javier Arauz Bastardo, a 20-year-old Hispanic male, was playing with friends on July 11, 2021, behind a home on Public Street. Born in Panamá, Lucinio was a gifted athlete who had been recognized in newspapers for his baseball talent and had even represented his home country in the sport.
Around 6:30 p.m., the sounds of the friendly game were shattered by
gunfire. Witnesses reported seeing a person in a mask jump out of a dark-colored Honda Odyssey and open fire on the group in the backyard. As the players scattered, the shooter got back into the vehicle, which then sped away. In the chaos, Lucinio realized he had been shot. He managed to stumble back into his house, where his sister, seeing his condition, ran outside screaming for help. Emergency services were called, and he was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital, but he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into Lucinio's murder has been marked by conflicting information and frustrating dead ends. Police initially stated they believed he was the intended target of the shooting. However, other reports suggested that Lucinio, who was not involved in any gangs, was an innocent victim caught in the crossfire of gang-related violence. Detectives found multiple shell casings at the scene, and two witnesses were taken in for questioning. Surveillance cameras in the area captured footage of the dark-colored Honda Odyssey believed to be the getaway vehicle.
A significant development in the case came on July 23, 2021, when Kelvin Ayala was arraigned as the driver of the vehicle involved in the shooting. During his court appearance, Ayala reportedly did not deny his involvement and even corrected some of the facts presented. However, in a bewildering turn of events, the police later informed Lucinio's family that they had the wrong person and that the vehicle was also incorrect, offering no further explanation for the mistake. This left the family with more questions than answers. To date, no other arrests have been made, and the person responsible for Lucinio Javier Arauz Bastardo's death remains at large.
