On a warm evening in Providence, Rhode Island, on June 11, 2017, Matthew Muirhead, a 37-year-old Black / African American male, went with a friend to a food truck near the corner of Broad and Sumter streets. A fight broke out near the truck, and in the ensuing chaos, three gunshots were fired, all of them striking Muirhead. His friend, who had been waiting nearby, heard the shots and rushed the gravely injured man to the hospital.
For twelve days, Muirhead fought for his life in the
intensive care unit, undergoing multiple surgeries. He ultimately succumbed to his injuries. A father of two, his death left his family devastated and searching for answers. Those who knew him remembered a hardworking and giving person with a constant smile.
Providence Police investigated the shooting as a homicide, recovering a bloody bat and shell casings from the scene. They indicated that the altercation was captured on camera. In the years following the deadly shooting, law enforcement expressed hope that they were close to making an arrest, citing that they had evidence in the case. However, despite these statements, there have been no arrests announced, and no suspects have been publicly named in the killing of Matthew Muirhead. His case remains an unsolved homicide, and his family continues to await justice.
