Crime
Murder that led to double fatal Swansea crash was allegedly over female acquaintance, suspect was in Fall River area; names of suspect, victim, released
Rhode Island authorities have announced charges for a Bristol County man after a fatal shooting and a double fatal car crash.
According to police, on Thursday, at approximately 8:34 p.m., officers from the Cranston Police Department responded to Legion Way for a report of a male who had been shot.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male inside the residence suffering from multiple gunshot wounds with family members rendering aid. Officers secured the scene, and Cranston Fire Department rescue personnel transported the victim to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced deceased at 9:09 p.m.
The victim has been identified as Javon Lawson, age 35, of Legion Way, Cranston.
Preliminary investigation revealed that individuals inside the residence heard banging at a side door. When Lawson approached the door, multiple gunshots were fired from outside the residence, striking him. Evidence recovered at the scene included shell casings located both inside and outside the side entrance.
Officers immediately canvassed the area and obtained surveillance video from nearby residences. Video footage showed a male subject wearing dark clothing and a mask walking toward the residence moments before the shooting and fleeing immediately afterward. The individual was observed running to a white Infiniti sedan parked on Aetna Street, which then left the area.
A Flock License Plate Reader subsequently captured the vehicle traveling northbound on Route 10 South from Reservoir Avenue shortly after the incident, and later in Fall River and Westport, Massachusetts. The vehicle, a white Infiniti bearing a Massachusetts plate, was determined to be registered to 28-year-old Demitri Sousa of Seekonk, Massachusetts.
Witness interviews and further investigation developed Sousa as the primary suspect in the shooting. Investigators learned of a prior dispute involving the suspect and the victim over a mutual female acquaintance.
Later that evening, at approximately 12:45 a.m., Sousa was taken into custody by Massachusetts authorities following a motor vehicle crash in Swansea, Massachusetts that resulted in two fatalities. Inside the white Infiniti, authorities located a .22 caliber pistol believed to be the weapon used in the shooting. Additional .22 caliber ammunition was recovered from Sousa at Rhode Island Hospital.
Based on the investigation, the Cranston Police Department obtained a court-authorized arrest warrant charging Demitri Sousa with:
- Murder (R.I.G.L. 11-23-1)
- Using a Firearm While Committing a Crime of Violence (R.I.G.L. 11-47-3.2)
- Carrying a Pistol Without a License (R.I.G.L. 11-47-8)
Sousa is being treated for serious injuries at Rhode Island Hospital and is expected to survive. Cranston police officers are maintaining custody until he is conscious and medically cleared, at which time he will be arraigned on the charges.
This remains an active and ongoing investigation. The Cranston Police Department continues to collaborate with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, the Massachusetts State Police and the Bristol County (MA) District Attorney’s Office.
Anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact the Cranston Police Department Detective Division or submit an anonymous tip by texting the keyword CRANSTONPD to 847411.
Chief Michael Winquist stated:
“On behalf of the Cranston Police Department, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Javon Lawson and the two individuals who were killed in the crash in Swansea. These were senseless acts of violence that have left families grieving and a community shaken. I am extremely proud of the swift and professional response by our patrol officers and the outstanding investigative work conducted by our detectives. Their dedication and commitment to pursuing the truth were instrumental in quickly identifying a suspect in this case. I also want to thank the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office for their guidance and support throughout this investigation. Together, we remain committed to holding those responsible for acts of violence accountable and ensuring the safety of our community.”
Chief Winquist also noted that Sousa was in the Fall River area after the fatal shooting.
More charges for Sousa are expected in Massachusetts.
The identities of the two killed in the Swansea crash have not yet been released.
All individual(s) are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
