On the morning of September 25, 2021, Jorge Garcia, a 38-year-old Hispanic male, was having breakfast at Roque's Café on Broad Street in Providence, Rhode Island. His life was cut short in a sudden act of violence that morning. A masked individual, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with distinctive white lettering, entered the restaurant at approximately 8:56 a.m.
and shot Garcia six times, killing him.
Born in the Dominican Republic, Garcia was known for his charismatic personality and caring heart. Described as the life of the party, he was a father to seven children and was loved by many for his tendency to sing, dance, and make people laugh. His death, the city's 19th homicide of the year, left his family and the community in mourning.
Investigators from the Providence Police Department immediately began a thorough investigation. They collected video surveillance from the restaurant and several nearby businesses, which allowed them to piece together the suspect's movements before and after the shooting. The footage revealed the involvement of two vehicles, a maroon Toyota Corolla and a black Dodge Ram, that met up before the murder. The suspect was seen exiting the Ram, entering the Corolla, and then heading towards the café. After the shooting, the suspect was captured on video running back to the Corolla and fleeing the scene.
The investigation led to the identification of Juan Rivera, a 37-year-old Providence man, as the primary suspect. Further evidence was gathered through a forensic analysis of Rivera's cell phone, which tracked his location from his residence to the area of the café at the time of the murder. Investigators also found a photo of Rivera taken before the incident in which he was wearing the same distinctive sweatshirt and sneakers as the shooter seen in the surveillance footage.
In March 2024, following a 14-day jury trial, Juan Rivera was found guilty on multiple counts, including murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and several firearms charges. On July 2, 2024, he was sentenced to serve two consecutive life sentences. The court also deemed him a habitual offender, adding an additional 10-year consecutive sentence.
