Pubdate: Sat, 23 Dec 2000
Source: Providence Journal, The (RI)
Copyright: 2000 The Providence Journal Company
Contact:  75 Fountain St., Providence RI 02902
Website: http://www.projo.com/
Author: Amanda Milkovits, Journal Staff Writer

POLICE: DRUGS FUEL PROVIDENCE KILLINGS

It Is Difficult To Reduce The Number Of Homicides In The City Because Of 
The Link Between Drugs And Guns, Police Officials Say.

PROVIDENCE -- A Providence man who was killed Wednesday in an Erastus 
Street house was a key witness in an upcoming murder trial.

The shooting death of Eric Price, 32, was one of three killings in the city 
this week that the Providence police say appear to be drug related. These 
latest killings have pushed Providence's homicide rate up to 28 this year 
- -- higher than last year's total of 26. Drugs are usually behind the 
killings, the police say.

"We certainly try to stem the drugs and firearms," said Providence police 
Maj. Martin F. Hames, "but we can't predict when a murder's going to take 
place."

The availability of drugs and guns makes reducing the homicide rate 
difficult, said Providence Commissioner of Public Safety John J. Partington.

"When you're talking drug-related crimes, it's unpredictable," Partington 
said. "That's the whole problem with our society today. Drugs bring in guns."

Jay E. Robinson, a 19-year-old Providence man, was found shot to death 
yesterday just before 1 a.m. in a parking lot at the corner of Providence 
and Lockwood Streets. Hames said his death "appears to be drug related."

The police are also investigating the killing of Ernesto Ramos, a 
19-year-old Providence man who was found shot to death Sunday night in a 
South Providence area known for drug problems. Witnesses told the police 
that Ramos sold "beat bags" -- bags of fake crack cocaine.

The police have said that the killing of Price, whose body was found in a 
first-floor room in a house on Erastus Street, also appears to be drug 
related. Michael Iasimone, 46, of an unknown address, who tried to get a 
glimpse of the killers, was shot and wounded. He was treated at Rhode 
Island Hospital and released Thursday afternoon.

Price was a key witness in a pending murder trial in Newport. In May, Price 
was wounded and Charles Hopper, of Providence, was killed, in a shooting 
outside a house in Newport's Tonomy Hill neighborhood.

Price was expected to testify against Carver K. Hedges, of Newport, in 
April. Hedges has been charged with murder in Hopper's death, and with 
intent to commit murder on Price. Hedges is being held at the Adult 
Correctional Institutions, in Cranston, where he's serving a 10-year 
sentence for cocaine delivery.

"[Price's] testimony was critical to their case, and now there's a void," 
said Christopher Gontarz, Hedges's court-appointed attorney.

Prosecutor Pamela Chin could not be reached for comment yesterday afternoon.
- ---
MAP posted-by: GD