In the spring of 2021, a young Hispanic/Latino man's life was cut tragically short on a street in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Leonardo Tavares, a 20-year-old male, was inside his Nissan Rogue on Randall Street on the afternoon of May 15, 2021, when he was fatally shot. Pawtucket police responded to a report of gunfire around 1:45 p.m. and discovered Tavares in his car with multiple gunshot wounds.
He was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting, which police believed to be a targeted incident, led to the identification of two suspects. Jahcolin Rodrigues, 20, of Providence, and Todd Alicea, 30, of Pawtucket, were arrested and charged in connection with the drive-by shooting. Investigators determined that Rodrigues had an ongoing feud with the "Bucket West" street gang and believed Tavares was affiliated with them. On the day of the shooting, Rodrigues was driving a Subaru Impreza when he spotted Tavares, circled the block, and then fired multiple shots into Tavares' vehicle.
Both Rodrigues and Alicea faced multiple charges, including first-degree murder and conspiracy. In August 2024, Jahcolin Rodrigues pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree murder and one count of discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle. The following month, he was sentenced to life in prison with an additional 20 years to serve. Todd Alicea was also indicted by a grand jury on a murder charge for his alleged involvement in the incident.
