Rhode Island man charged with assault with attempt to murder after hammer attack on senior in Shaw’s parking lot

Attorney General Peter Neronha has announced that an East Providence man has been charged in Providence County Superior Court with multiple counts of felony assault, including assault with attempt to murder, after allegedly attacking an East Providence man with a hammer on July 5, 2023.

On August 22, 2023, the Office of the Attorney General charged 47-year-old Kenneth Jackson by way of criminal information, with one count of assault with intent to murder, one count of assault with a deadly weapon, one count of assault on a person over the age of 60, and one count of disorderly conduct.

As alleged in the criminal information, on July 5, 2023, East Providence Police responded to the parking lot of a retail shopping center at 1040 Willet Avenue after a witness reported seeing a man standing over a 74-year-old man with a hammer in his hand. Upon arrival, officers found Jackson sitting at a nearby picnic table and detained him. Rescue personnel transported the victim to Rhode Island Hospital for his injuries.

As further alleged, investigators obtained surveillance footage from a nearby Shaw’s supermarket which depicted the victim walking away from the neighboring Dollar Tree store with Jackson following him close behind. The footage then allegedly shows Jackson strike the victim twice in the back of the head with the hammer, unprovoked.

According to East Providence Police, bystanders were able to wrestle the hammer away from the suspect to prevent further injury to the victim.

As further alleged, the investigators obtained Jackson’s consent to search his apartment. Investigators found a letter, written by him, that described his intentions to kill someone that day.

Jackson is scheduled for a pre-arraignment conference on October 23, 2023, in Providence County Superior Court.