Boyfriend arrested for shooting and killing girlfriend’s son in Cranston

Colonel Michael J. Winquist, Chief of the Cranston Police Department, announced a local man’s arrest for murder following a fatal shooting that occurred at a private residence.

On December 29, at 2:39 p.m., the Cranston Police Department received a 911 call from 17 B Street reporting that someone had been shot at that address and required medical attention. Responding Officers located forty-one-year old Paul Zoice unconscious and suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Members of the Cranston Fire Department transported Zoice to Rhode Island Hospital before succumbing to his injuries.

Zoice resided at 17 B Street with his mother, aunt, and mother’s boyfriend, identified as Charles Gangi, age 73. Gangi was at the residence when officers arrived and stated he was responsible for the shooting. He was immediately detained and returned to Cranston Police Headquarters. A court-authorized search warrant was obtained to search the residence for physical evidence. Two handguns were seized, including one handgun believed to be the murder weapon.
It is alleged that Zoice and Gangi were engaged in a heated argument inside the residence, at which time Gangi retrieved a handgun he owned from a nearby room and shot Zoice in the chest. Zoice’s mother and aunt were home when the shooting occurred and fortunately were not injured.

Gangi was arraigned by a Justice of the Peace at Cranston Police Department Headquarters Tuesday evening on charges of Murder (1st Degree), Discharge of a Firearm Resulting in Death, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon – Firearm, and Discharge of a Firearm in a Compact Area.

The incident remains under investigation by the Cranston Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Unit with assistance from the Bureau of Criminal Identification.

Gangi will be formally arraigned in the 3rd District Court today.