UPDATED: Suspect in Fatal Stabbing at Nara Lounge on Federal Hill Captured in Texas

UPDATED: Suspect in Fatal Stabbing at Nara Lounge on Federal Hill Captured in Texas

The U.S. Attorney in Rhode Island made the announcement in a Tweet on Saturday evening that Joel Francisco — the suspect in the fatal stabbing of Troy Pine two weeks ago in Nara Lounge on Atwells Avenue in Federal Hill -- has been captured in Texas.

“#Breakingnews RI Fugitive Joel Fransisco apprehended without incident at a motel in New Braunfels, TX. RI Violent Fugitive Task Force,  USMS Lone Star Fugitive TF, USMS Florida Regional Fugitive TF, and (Virginia) Capital Area Regional Fugitive TF tracked him from RI to Texas.”

Providence Police confirmed to GoLocal the arrest and await information of efforts to extract Francisco back to Rhode Island to face prosecution.

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The arrest was made at a Motel 6 and according to police, it is believed he was trying to escape to Mexico.

According to the U.S. Attorney's office, "members of the LSFTF located Francisco at a motel in the 1200 block of North Interstate 35 in New Braunfels and arrested him without incident. Christopher Rivera, 32, was also arrested at the scene for an outstanding federal warrant from Greenville, NC. Both are currently being held in GEO Group Detention Facility awaiting extradition."

The U.S. Marshals Service District of Massachusetts, the U.S. Marshals Service District of Connecticut, the U.S. Attorney’s Office of Rhode Island, the U.S. Marshals Service Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force and the U.S. Marshals Service Florida Regional Task Force assisted in the investigation. “All agencies involved in this investigation worked collectively and efficiently to locate and arrest Francisco,” said U.S. Marshal Susan Pamerleau. “In this case, two fugitives fled to avoid prosecution, but are no longer free to cause hurt or harm to society.”

The Incident

As GoLocalProv reported, Pine was stabbed to death inside of the nightclub Nara Lounge on Federal Hill in Providence.

"The stabbing occurred inside the bar," said Providence Police Major David Lapatin.

According to one Federal Hill resident, who witnessed the aftermath — it was “just a matter of time.”

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Nara Lounge is owned by Dhwani Patel and Kanan Patel, according to RI business records.

Both of them are donors to Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza — donating $1,500, according to Rhode Island state campaign finance records.

The club has been brought before the Providence Board of Licenses on numerous occasions in the past.

According to city records, Nara was brought before the board for incidents dating back to 2013. The lounge was cited in May of 2017 for illegal bottle service and was fined $750. 

The murder marks the second in the city in less than a week, after a 19-year-old woman was shot and killed — and not the intended target — while out with friends celebrating her birthday.