Eight men, ages from 19 to 25, are facing felony charges for allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl during a party in 2019, with part of the assault being recorded and posted on social media.
Officers held a press conference and announced the arrest of 7 of the suspects, identified as Erving Keith Colon, Luis Luna, Malcom Baptista, Jose Vargas, Richard Tarell Chester, Carlos Chicon, and Luis Cabrera.
Carlos Vasquez, the eight suspect, is being sought by authorities.
Providence Police Chief Hugh Clements Jr. described the case as “horrifying, devastating, disturbing on so many levels.”
“Not only did they criminally and viciously assault her, but completely violated her in so many inhumane ways,” Clements said.
The victim and her family filed a report that day but it wasn’t until June 2020 that the investigation pushed further after a video showing the assault was found on Facebook.
The girl’s mother brought the video evidence to the detectives who used the clip to identify the men.
When asked by WJAR why it took 8 months to make arrests, Chief Clements said the case is ‘not like TV police shows: these investigations are complicated. They take a lot of time to solve.”
He also said that it took months to gather statements and video evidence, and identify the men, some of whom were known only by their nicknames.
Major Lapatin said: “Parents, watch your daughters, they don’t belong going to these parties, these are dangerous, dangerous parties,” adding teenage boys should also be aware of such risks as well.
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