Police Break Up Fight Involving Over 30 People in Front of House Where Rapper Was Murdered

Police Break Up Fight Involving Over 30 People in Front of House Where Rapper Was Murdered

Providence police were called to break up a disturbance on Monday night in front of the house where the city’s latest homicide occurred. 

Now, a member of the Providence City Council is saying the house had been previously tagged as a “nuisance” in the neighborhood — twice in the last two months prior to the murder. 

About Incident — and House History

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James Owens — a Providence rapper who performed under the name "Hammer Beanz" — was the victim of Saturday night’s homicide in front of 89 Huxley Street near Providence College, where he was shot and killed. 

Providence Police Major David Lapatin said Monday police are investigating if Owens was killed by someone he may have known.

Shortly before 6:30 PM on Monday, police were sent to 89 Huxley Avenue again -- for a report of a disturbance. 

Upon arrival, police said there were over 30 people fighting in the middle of the street. The crowd was ordered to disperse, which police said happened without further incident. 

Providence City Councilwoman Jo-Ann Ryan said she was informed about the incident Monday night -- and told GoLocal that the house at 89 Huxley has been a problem in recent months. 

“I’d received complaints from neighbors for loud music coming from that house,” said Ryan. “Following protocol, I reported it [to the city] and had it stickered two times. Once on October 19 — they removed it, which is in itself a violation — and it was stickered again on December 9."

According to the city’s website, the Nuisance Task Force was created to “identify and address nuisance properties in the City of Providence in a systematic and collaborative way;" homes are "stickered" that are determined to be a "nuisance" to the community. 

“The Task Force includes representatives from the City Solicitor’s Office, the Police Department, the Fire Department, the Department of Inspection and Standards and the Rhode Island Office of the Attorney General. The goal of the Task Force is to resolve current and long-standing nuisance properties throughout the City and to educate individuals and communities to prevent new nuisances,” the city continues. 

“I don’t know who was living there, and I knew not of the occupants. All I knew was I was getting calls from neighbors, who when I spoke with, expressed concern,” said Ryan.

According to city records, the property is owned by LSL Griffin Group LLC.

Ryan said Tuesday that she believed the property was going to be addressed by the city again this week.

“It’s a tragic situation — it’s not good someone lost their life but owners have to be responsible who they’re renting to. And whoever they’re renting to took the sticker off. Police knew there were problems,” said Ryan.  “I asked police, can you please make sure there’s a presence [at the location] with everything’s that happened to secure the area.”

“The mayor has been defunding the police since we took office, and we’re feeling the impacts of that,” said Ryan. “They can’t do everything in the community.”