In the early morning hours of August 28, 2021, the life of 23-year-old Andrei Bonilla was tragically cut short in Providence, Rhode Island. A gifted athlete and a graduate of the Year UP program, Bonilla was working as a field technician for IGT. He was known for his advocacy of non-violence, a stark contrast to the violent end he would meet.
That morning, Bonilla was giving a female acquaintance a ride home.
As she was getting out of his car on Harwol Street, her ex-boyfriend, 23-year-old Andrew Mangru, suddenly appeared. Mangru confronted the woman, assaulting her and knocking her to the ground. He then turned his aggression toward Bonilla, who was still in the driver's seat. Mangru fired a silver revolver at least four times into the vehicle, striking Bonilla three times.
Despite his severe injuries, Bonilla managed to drive away from the scene. His attempt to flee ended a short distance away on Branch Avenue, where he crashed his car into a parking bollard at a convenience store. By the time first responders arrived, Andrei Bonilla had succumbed to his gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Providence Police detectives quickly identified Andrew Mangru as the suspect. A warrant was issued for his arrest, and on September 10, 2021, he was apprehended at a residence on Prairie Avenue. The firearm used in the murder was never recovered by authorities. While incarcerated and awaiting trial, Mangru attempted to obstruct the judicial process by sending a letter intended to dissuade the female victim from testifying against him.
Following a week-long trial, a jury found Andrew Mangru guilty of second-degree murder, discharge of a firearm resulting in death, domestic assault, and carrying a pistol without a license, among other charges, on December 9, 2022. On May 5, 2023, Mangru was sentenced to serve consecutive life sentences for the murder of Andrei Bonilla. Posthumously, the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office honored Bonilla for his commitment to non-violence and his positive contributions to his community.
