On a cold February evening in 2014, the life of 17-year-old George Holland II, an African American male, was tragically cut short in Providence, Rhode Island. A senior at High Roads School with aspirations of studying criminal justice in college, George was the eldest of eleven siblings and a leader on his high school football team. He was an innocent victim in a senseless act of violence, not the intended target of the attack that claimed his life on February 4th.
The deadly events were
set in motion by a plot for revenge over a stolen cell phone and cash. Five individuals conspired to commit the murder. On that fateful night, Alain Bedame, Ashner Alexis, Seydina Ndoye, and Robert Winston drove from Woonsocket to a residence on Colfax Street in Providence after obtaining a shotgun from Anthony Moore. Once they arrived, Alexis and Winston approached the house. Winston was instructed to knock on a window with the blinds drawn. When the shadowy figure of a person appeared at the window, Alexis fired the shotgun, fatally striking George Holland.
The investigation led by the Providence Police resulted in the arrest of all five individuals involved. The suspects were identified as Ashner "Pookie" Alexis, 19; Anthony "Bing" Moore, 22; Seydina Ndoye, 20; Alain Bedame, 19; and Robert Winston, who was a juvenile at the time of the crime. The subsequent legal proceedings brought convictions for all five. Ashner Alexis, the shooter, was found guilty of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and use of a firearm during a crime of violence resulting in death. Anthony Moore was also found guilty of murder, conspiracy, and a firearm charge. Both Alexis and Moore were sentenced to consecutive life sentences plus 10 years.
The other conspirators also faced justice for their roles in the murder. Robert Winston, who had knocked on the window to lure the victim, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit murder and conspiracy to commit murder; he was sentenced to 30 years with 26 to serve. Seydina Ndoye and Alain Bedame both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and discharge of a firearm resulting in injury. They were each sentenced to 70 years with 30 years to serve.
