Fall River man, two others, charged after investigation into shooting at Hell’s Angels Club

Colonel James M. Manni, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police and Director of the Department of Public Safety, announces that three individuals were arrested as a result of an investigation into a shooting that occurred outside the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club in Providence. Three weapons and a quantity of ammunition also were seized.

Joseph Lancia, age 28, of 40 Fanning Lane, Smithfield, RI, was charged with:

• Assault with a Deadly Weapon – Firearm
• Discharging a Firearm when Committing a Crime of Violence
• License or Permit Required for Carrying Pistol
• Firing in a Compact Area

Howard J. Pollitt, age 45, of 702 King Philip St., Fall River, and Amber E. Gill, age 25, of 8 Andem St., Providence, were charged with obstructing a police officer and resisting arrest.

The arrests stemmed from an investigation by members of the Rhode Island State Police Intelligence Unit, who had received information about a felony assault with a firearm that allegedly occurred at approximately 10:40 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, outside the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club, located at 161-163 Messer Street in Providence.

The victim told detectives that someone had fired a single gunshot at his vehicle as he drove past the motorcycle club’s headquarters at that location. The bullet struck the passenger’s side of the vehicle. No one was injured.

As a result of their investigation, members of the Rhode Island State Police Intelligence Unit, along with members of the State Police Violent Fugitive Task Force, responded to the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club on Messer Street at approximately 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday and arrested Lancia without incident.

Lancia is identified as the president of the Rhode Island Chapter of the Hell’s Angels Motorcycle Club.

Members of the Intelligence Unit subsequently obtained a search warrant for that location and executed that warrant at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday with assistance from members of the Rhode Island State Police Tactical Unit, K-9 Unit and Computer Crimes Unit.

As a result of executing this warrant, the Rhode Island State Police seized three firearms and assorted ammunition.

Pollitt and Gill were arrested at the club during the execution of the warrant for obstruction and resisting arrest.

All three suspects were scheduled for arraignment today in Sixth Division District Court in Providence.