Rhode Island man convicted in the murder of 24-year-old Miya Brophy-Baermann, attempted murder of Sheron Robinson

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter Neronha announced Wednesday that a Providence man has been found guilty in Providence County Superior Court of the murder of 24-year-old Miya Brophy-Baermann and the attempted murder of Sheron Robinson.

On Wednesday, following the conclusion of a 12-day jury trial before Superior Court Justice Robert Krause, the jury found 33-year-old Shawn Mann 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; one count of possession of a ghost gun; one count of carrying a pistol without a license; 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.

Mann is currently being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for a later date.

During the trial, the State proved that during the early morning hours on Sunday, August 1, 2021, the defendant and a co-defendant, Isaiah Pinkerton, participated in a drive-by shooting on Olney Street in Providence that killed Miya Brophy-Baermann.

On January 26, 2024, Mann’s co-defendant, Isaiah Pinkerton was sentenced to double life in prison, plus 50 years, following a jury trial.

“Miya’s life was just beginning when it was tragically cut short, and her loss will forever be felt deeply by her friends, family, and community,” said Attorney General Neronha. “I am heartened that my Office, in partnership with the Providence Police Department, has helped bring to justice both of the defendants responsible for her murder. Finally, I am grateful to our prosecutors and the Providence Police for their outstanding work 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. In the Elantra, officers located a backpack that was tossed from the vehicle prior to the stop, which contained a ghost gun.

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. After multiple confirmed analyses, experts determined that the spent casings from the scene on Olney Street were expelled from the recovered ghost gun.

“I am incredibly proud of the work the men and women of the Providence Police Department do every day to keep the public safe and hold individuals accountable who harm others,” said Providence Police Colonel Oscar L. Perez Jr. “I commend our officers and detectives who investigated this case and thank the Office of the Attorney General for their continued partnership.”

Special Assistant Attorneys General Stephen Dambruch and Alison Bittl of the Office of the Attorney General, Detectives Sergeant Timothy McGann and Thedore Michael (formerly of the Providence Police Department), Detectives Paul Romano and Thomas Richards, Investigator Ryan Malloy, and Officer Brad McParlin, led the investigation and prosecution of the case.