On a spring afternoon in Providence, Rhode Island, a burst of gunfire shattered the quiet of Wendell Street. It was May 14, 2014, and 20-year-old Devon Taylor, a Black / African American male, was sitting in a car with his younger sister. In a sudden, violent attack, another vehicle pulled alongside, and shots were fired. Taylor was fatally wounded in the drive-by shooting, a young life cut short in an act of senseless violence that also left his 15-year-old sister, Destiny, injured.
The incident, which occurred around 4:00 p.m., was not a random act of violence but one authorities believe was rooted in a rivalry between neighborhoods.
The investigation into Devon Taylor's death quickly pointed to two individuals. The shooter was identified as Joseph "Jo Jo" Taylor, who, despite sharing the same last name, was not related to the victim. The driver of the vehicle was Juan Ranero. The attack was carried out with a 9mm firearm that Joseph Taylor fired from the sunroof of the moving car. Tragically, the shooting took place on Joseph Taylor's 18th birthday. Shortly after the incident, he surrendered to the police, taking the first step in a legal process that would ultimately hold him and his accomplice accountable for their actions. Providence Police Detectives Steven Sullivan and Daniel O'Connell led the investigation that brought the suspects to justice.
In the months that followed, the legal proceedings against both men unfolded. In March 2015, Joseph Taylor pleaded guilty to his role in the murder of Devon Taylor. A year later, in April 2016, Juan Ranero also pleaded guilty for his part in the deadly drive-by shooting. Both men were sentenced to life in prison, with an additional 20 years suspended with probation, and would not be eligible for parole. The convictions brought a measure of closure to a case that highlighted the devastating consequences of gun violence and territorial disputes, leaving a family to mourn the loss of a young father and beloved brother.
