Providence Police Identify City’s First Homicide Victim of Year

Providence Police Identify City’s First Homicide Victim of Year

Providence police have identified the victim of the city’s first homicide of 2022. 

As GoLocal reported, a man was shot and killed in Providence -- and another man was shot and required surgery -- following a shooting early Sunday morning.​

According to Providence Police Major David Lapatin, the deceased male has been identified as Biniam Tsegai, 35 years. from Portland, Maine. 

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

The injured male has been identified as Merhawi Berhe, 28 years, of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

About Homicide

Lapatin said Monday that around 3 AM Sunday morning, the victims — along with another male — were coming out of what police now believe was an illegal after-hours establishment on the corner of Elmwood Avenue and Potter Avenue when they encountered a group of four males.

According to Lapatin, a fight ensued, and shots were fired from the group of four males. 

“We believe [Tsegai] passed away at the scene,” said Lapatin. 

Detectives are currently investigating

All weekend we’ve been gathering the information and searching the area — hopefully we’ll have an outcome with an arrest shortly,” said Lapatin. “We have a way to go, but we are making progress.”