Providence man sentenced to prison for drive-by shooting that killed 24-year-old Miya Brophy-Baermann

Attorney General Peter Neronha announced today that a Providence man has been sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to double life sentences at the Adult Correctional Institutions for murder and related assault and firearms counts stemming from a 2021 shooting that killed 24-year-old Miya Brophy-Baermann and the assault with intent to commit murder Sheron Robinson.

At a hearing on January 26, 2024, Superior Court Justice Robert Krause sentenced 26-year-old Isaiah Pinkerton to double life in prison, plus 50 years, the first 10 years of which are non-parolable, followed by a 10-year suspended sentence.

On June 29, 2023, following the conclusion of a nine-day jury trial before Judge Krause, the jury found Pinkerton guilty of one count of murder; one count of conspiracy to commit murder; one count of discharge of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, resulting in death; one count of committing a drive-by shooting; two counts of possession of a ghost gun; two counts of carrying a pistol without a license; two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; one count of assault with intent to commit murder; and one count of discharge of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, resulting in no injury.

During the trial, the State proved that during the early morning hours on Sunday, August 1, 2021, Pinkerton participated in a drive-by shooting on Olney Street in Providence using a Polymer80 ghost gun, killing Miya Brophy-Baermann. The jury also convicted the defendant on charges of possessing a Polymer80 ghost gun on December 12, 2021.

“It has been more than two years since Miya lost her life, and while we are painfully aware that nothing can return her to her family and friends, I hope today’s significant sentence brings some semblance of peace to everyone impacted by this unnecessary and tragic loss,” said Attorney General Neronha. “I am grateful to the Providence Police Department for their outstanding work and partnership during the investigation and prosecution of this complex case.”

On the morning of August 1, 2021, Providence Police responded to reports of a shooting on Olney Street and arrived on scene as rescue personnel were transporting the victim, Miya Brophy Baermann, to Rhode Island Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

In the days following, investigators obtained surveillance footage which showed a dark colored sedan driving past the scene of the crime, opening fire upon Miya and Sheron, and then fleeing. They also recovered two 9mm cartridge cases in the roadway and one fragmented bullet from the victim’s vehicle, all of which were sent to the State Crime Lab for analysis. During the course of the investigation, detectives were able to obtain a combination of surveillance, phone location data, DNA, and ballistics evidence.

Four months later, on December 12, 2021, Providence Police conducted a routine motor vehicle stop of a Hyundai Elantra, of which Pinkerton was a passenger. Officers located a backpack that was tossed from the vehicle prior to the stop, which contained a ghost gun. Pinkerton was then brought into the police station where he consented to a buccal swab to obtain his DNA.

Investigators ran the ghost gun through the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network database, which indicated that the gun was a possible match to the gun used during the August 1, 2021, shooting. Experts did further analysis to confirm the accuracy of the findings and they determined that the spent casings from the scene on Olney Street were expelled from the recovered ghost gun.

Prior to sending it for analysis, investigators took swabs of the gun to submit for DNA analysis. Shortly after, they confirmed the presence of Pinkerton’s DNA on the gun, magazine, and the backpack it was found in.

“The men and women of the Providence Police Department commit themselves every day to performing police work that keeps the public safe and holds those accountable who harm others in our community,” said Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez. “I want to thank our officers who investigated this case, specifically Detective Sergeant Timothy McGann and Detective Theodore Michael, and thanks to the Office of the Attorney General for their continued partnership.”

On August 24, 2022, a co-defendant in this case, Shawn Mann, was indicted by a statewide grand jury for murder and other related charges. He currently awaits trial.

Special Assistant Attorneys General Stephen Dambruch and Alison Bittl of the Office of the Attorney General and Detectives Sergeant Timothy McGann and Theodore Michael, formerly with the Providence Police Department, led the investigation and prosecution of the case.