Shots Fired as Providence Police Try to Disband Crowd of Hundreds Drinking, Smoking Weed in Public

Shots Fired as Providence Police Try to Disband Crowd of Hundreds Drinking, Smoking Weed in Public

Providence police responded Sunday morning to reports of a large crowd gathered on Dupont Drive -- where shots were reportedly fired soon after police arrived. 

It marks the latest incident where police were called to break up a large crowd that soon escalated and required additional backup.

In July, Providence police released body camera footage of the Sayles Street melee, following which two officers were suspended. 

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These incidents are so large they functionally require all police on duty to respond leaving much of the city with little or no police coverage.

 

About Incident 

Shortly after 4 AM on Sunday, police received calls about numerous vehicles gathered playing loud music in the area of 150 Dupont Drive.

The location is between Niantic and Huntington Avenues by Route 10 - and the Cranston border - where police have responded to calls before. 

According to police, there were at least 100 vehicles, and more than 200 people gathered drinking in public, as well as smoking weed and hookahs.

As police went to disperse the crowd, there were multiple shots fired while people were leaving.

Police called in additional backup and found numerous shell casings; there were no reports of injuries. 

 

After Dupont Street Incident

Following the response to the Dupont Street incident, police then received a call that the party was moved to Reservoir Avenue.

At Reservoir Avenue, there was also a report that shots were fired. 

Police investigated the reports at Reservoir but did not find any evidence of shots fired at that location. 

This story was first published 9/5/21 10:13 AM