Rhode Island man convicted of murdering Massachusetts man outside Providence nightclub

Attorney General Peter Neronha announced Friday that a Johnston man has been found guilty by a Providence County Superior Court jury of the murder of Mario Diaz of Boston, stemming from a shooting outside a Providence nightclub in 2021.

On January 17, 2024, following the conclusion of a seven-day jury trial before Superior Court Justice Robert Krause, a jury found 38-year-old Miguel Lacourt guilty of one count of second-degree murder, one count of discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence resulting in death, and one count of carrying a pistol without a license. Lacourt was acquitted on the same counts for a second victim stemming from the same incident, Kenwins Pimentel.

Lacourt is currently being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions pending a sentencing hearing to be scheduled later.

“These days, lives are lost to gun violence so often that it’s difficult not to become numb to such tragedy,” said Attorney General Neronha. “While that response is understandable, we must continue to fight for commonsense gun laws and enforcement and avoid complacency. This victim, and countless others, would still be alive if not for the availability of firearms to those ready and willing to use them for violence. I hope this verdict provides some measure of peace for the victim’s family. And thank you to the Providence Police for their consistent commitment to seeking justice for the victims of violent crime.”

During the trial, the State proved that Lacourt shot and killed the victim following a dispute at a Providence lounge.

In the early morning hours of August 7, 2021, Lacourt and two friends attended Fuego Lounge on West Friendship Street in Providence. Video surveillance from inside the lounge depicted Lacourt as having long dreadlocks, two distinct tattoos, and wearing a red Cincinnati Reds hat and Motorsport sneakers. At some point, Lacourt and his friend exited the nightclub and proceeded to linger outside. Outside the nightclub, Lacourt and another individual began an argument that then turned physical. Lacourt attempted to restrain one of the people involved but got punched and kicked to the ground. Lacourt eventually freed himself from the altercation and walked off towards Elmwood Avenue.

Approximately 90 seconds later, Lacourt returned with a gun and shot the victim.

Investigators recovered several items from the crime scene, including a strand of hair, a Cincinnati Reds hat and a Motorsport brand sneaker, items which were identified as belonging to Lacourt in the video surveillance footage. Investigators sent the items to the Forensic Biology Lab at the Rhode Island Department of Health along with a known buccal swab from Lacourt. The DNA profile matched the profiles extracted from all four items.

Investigators also matched still frames from the video surveillance footage of Lacourt’s tattoos to booking photos from a prior arrest.

“I commend the outstanding work conducted by Providence Police and the Attorney General’s Office for bringing this defendant to justice,” said Providence Police Colonel Oscar L. Perez, Jr. “My heart goes out the family and friends of the victim and hope the outcome of this case gives them some semblance of peace.”

Assistant Attorney General Scott Erickson and Special Assistant Attorney General Ariel Pittner of the Office of the Attorney General and Detective Mitchell Guerra of the Providence Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.