In the early morning hours of November 25, 2017, the life of 20-year-old Marcelino Debarros, a Black male, was tragically cut short in a Pawtucket, Rhode Island apartment. Debarros, a promising amateur boxer with dreams of turning professional, was found with gunshot wounds alongside his 23-year-old cousin, Jalin Braxton. Both men were rushed to the hospital, where Debarros was pronounced dead.
Braxton was treated for his injuries and released.
The investigation into the double shooting quickly led to the arrest of 21-year-old Cedric Dalomba of Providence. Dalomba was not a stranger to Debarros; in a devastating turn of events, he was identified as Debarros's former roommate and best friend. The two had recently had a falling out, which led to Dalomba being asked to move out of the apartment they shared on Beechwood Avenue. Authorities believe that on the night of the shooting, Dalomba returned to the residence and shot both Debarros and Braxton. According to a court affidavit, another roommate informed police that Dalomba was aware that the victims had money.
Dalomba was taken into custody on the same night as the shooting and was later charged with murder and felony assault. As the legal proceedings unfolded, a second individual, Rasheid Lebron, was also implicated in the crime. In May 2018, a grand jury indicted Dalomba on seven charges, including first-degree murder and burglary. Lebron was indicted on a charge of conspiracy to commit felony assault. Both men pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them. Dalomba was ordered to be held without bail.
The community was left to mourn the loss of a young man known for his dedication to boxing and his mentorship of younger athletes at the Big Six Boxing Academy in Providence. Friends and family remembered Marcelino Debarros for his vibrant personality and infectious smile, a stark contrast to the violent end he met at the hands of someone he once considered a close friend.
