Man Fatally Stabbed Inside Lounge on Federal Hill
GoLocalProv News Team
Man Fatally Stabbed Inside Lounge on Federal Hill
"The stabbing occurred inside the bar," said Providence Police Major David Lapatin Thursday morning. He said police will be releasing more information during the day.
According to one Federal Hill resident, who witnessed the aftermath — it was “just a matter of time.”
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“We all knew this club was next — it was just a matter of time. Kind of strange to happen on a Wednesday night," said Mike White. “Now it’s going to hurt business again. Plus we have our huge annual Columbus Day feast next weekend.”
White said the street was closed for 5 hours while police were investigating.
Latest in Club Violence
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
White spoke to the impact of violence on the neighborhood, which is still reeling from the after-hours stabbing death of 28-year-old Stephan Cabral this summer — and how to deal with the area’s nightlife.
“It’s just too bad there are many victims here. The person who lost their life and his family, then the businesses and property owners and the establishment where it happened will probably be shut down permanently now,” said White.
White spoke to how he said he believes the Hill is generally safe during the day — and dinnertime hours.
“Normal people don’t need to worry about safety. It’s not happening at restaurants or at dinner time. These [murders] are related to a situation,” said White. “The hill is a safe place — I’m out and about all night until 4 a..m., between work, eating, and meeting friends.”
“We are cleaning up Federal Hill. Many troubled places have been shut down and we have a new procedure that anyone who applies for a new liquor license will only get a 12 midnight 7 nights a week [license] — no more 1, 2 a.m. [closing] licenses, so we will be back to a restaurant environment,” said White. “We have 50 new police officers and they are walking the streets a lot more now, with the extra manpower.”
Video by GoLocal partner Reynaldo Almonte.