On a cold evening in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the life of 28-year-old Hispanic male Jovani Velez was brought to an abrupt and violent end. On January 30, 2022, what began as a transaction for a small amount of cocaine devolved into a fatal encounter. Velez, a resident of Cumberland, had arranged to meet Jovon Depina and his accomplice, Elijah Soto, in a parking lot near Park and Laurel Streets.
After Velez entered the backseat of their Nissan Murano and completed the purchase, an argument broke out inside the vehicle.
Following the dispute, Velez exited the car to wait for his ride home, seemingly believing the confrontation was over. However, Depina instructed Soto to drive him to his residence. There, Depina went inside and returned with a "ghost gun," an untraceable firearm. He came back wearing black gloves and a black jacket. The pair then drove back to the parking lot where Velez was still waiting. Surveillance footage captured the chilling moments that followed, as Depina exited the Murano, approached Velez, and fired several shots at him. Velez was struck in the stomach and emergency responders found him wounded on Carnation Street. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The investigation led by the Pawtucket Police Department resulted in the identification and arrest of two suspects. Elijah Soto, who was 18 years old at the time, was taken into custody and faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder and conspiracy. The man who pulled the trigger, 28-year-old Jovon Depina, later pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and possession of a ghost gun. As a result of his plea, Jovon Depina was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Jovani Velez.
