Three men arrested in connection to non-fatal Newport shooting. What to know
Newport Police arrested two Aquidneck Islanders over the weekend in connection to a non-fatal shooting near the Park Holm housing complex.
In the early hours of Friday, July 5, police received a report of shots fired near Kennedy Road. A press release detailing the arrests said police recovered over 20 shell casings while processing the scene. A victim had been transported to Newport Hospital and later Rhode Island Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Police arrested Johnny Escobar, a 24-year-old from Middletown, in connection to the shooting, charging him with possession of Firearms by Certain Persons Prohibited, Assault with Intent to Commit Specified Felonies, License or Permit Required for Carrying Pistol, Firing in a Compact area and Disorderly Conduct.
While Escobar was arrested on the day the shots fired were reported, two more men would be arrested in the week to come, as police discovered information they allege showed the incident involved multiple people firing multiple firearms. On July 10, another arrest was made in connection to the incident. While executing a warrant they obtained on suspicion that there were attempts to dispose of one of the firearms used in the shooting, Newport Police said they discovered a 9 mm handgun in 24-year-old Kenneth Jenkins Jr.’s residence in Middletown. Jenkins was arrested and charged with Compounding or Concealing a Felony, Conspiracy, Assault with Intent to Commit Specified Felonies and False Information in Securing a Firearm. Additionally, Middletown Police charged Jenkins with Possession of Firearm Prohibited - Person Convicted of Crime of Violence and Large Capacity Feeding Devices Prohibited.
Two days later, 29-year-old Marc Washington of Portsmouth allegedly fled a traffic stop Portsmouth Police were conducting, driving recklessly down West Main Road to Middletown where he was later arrested in connection to the shooting in Newport. Washington was charged with Eluding Law Enforcement, Vehicle in a High Speed Pursuit - 1st Offense and Possession of Cocaine by Portsmouth Police in addition to five charges from Newport Police: Conspiracy, Compounding or Concealing a Felony, Assault with Intent to Commit Specified Felonies, Possession of a Firearms by Certain Persons Prohibited and License or Permit Required for Carrying Pistol.
All three are currently being held at Rhode Island ACI in Cranston.
“The Newport Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety of all residents andvisitors of the city,” Newport Police said in the press release. “Violence of any kind, especially gun violence, will not be tolerated and all instances of gun violence will be thoroughly investigated and those responsible will face significant criminal charges.”
This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: Shooting in Newport leads to arrest of three men in following days
