Gun ‘accidentally discharged’ in deadly shooting of Central Falls teen

Suspect: Gun ‘accidentally discharged’ in deadly shooting of Central Falls teen

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CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (WPRI) — The suspect accused in a fatal shooting of a 15-year-old girl in Central Falls told police a gun he was handling accidentally went off when it struck the victim and later killed her, Target 12 has learned.

ORIGINAL NOTE: https://www.wpri.com/target-12/suspect-gun-accidentally-discharged-in-deadly-shooting-of-central-falls-teen/

According to an affidavit obtained by Target 12, 18-year-old Moises Maldonado told investigators he woke up in the bedroom of the victim’s boyfriend home on Earle Street, and received a text from the victim “asking to purchase marijuana pods.”

Maldonado told investigators he sometimes stayed at the Earle Street home “as he is not allowed at his home due to issues with his parents.”

Booking photo of Moises Maldonado.

He said he and the victim met up and he laid out different flavors of the pods on the bed, where the victim sat.

Documents show Maldonado admitted to investigators that on the morning of the incident he was also handling a Glock he claimed belonged to a friend. He said he picked it up and began to clear the gun of ammunition when “it accidentally discharged,” striking the victim.

“Panicking, Moises informed others in the house, who advised him to leave,” court documents said.

Police said video footage revealed “significant events” before investigators arrived at the Earle Street home.

According to an affidavit, the footage showed two men, including Maldonado, “leave the scene hastily.” Investigators said the video showed a female in the video “raising her arms in a panicked manner.”

Later that morning, police were dispatched to another home on Cowden Street in response to a report of an unwanted person. When officers got there, a man told them his son, who turned out to be Maldonado, “had been at the residence where the shooting occurred and he no longer wanted him at his home.”

Investigators said Maldonado willingly went with officers back to police headquarters for further questioning. Shortly after, the other man also “voluntarily arrived,” and told officers he was also at the residence during the incident.

Maldonado appeared to change his clothing after the incident, according to investigators. Officers noted he was not wearing the same outfit seen in the video footage from earlier that day, and said they suspected Maldonado discarded his clothes at his family’s home and “changed into a fresh set.”

Investigators later tested Maldanado’s clothes for gunshot residue.

Police said they also identified several individuals who were home at the time of the incident. They told investigators they were all in their basement bedrooms “when they heard a loud noise” and found the victim unresponsive on her boyfriend’s bed.

The victim’s boyfriend was not home at the time, according to the affidavit, but police later detained and transported him to police headquarters for questioning. The witnesses inside the home were also transported to police headquarters.

When officers searched the home, they found a spent shell casing on the floor next to the dresser and bed, and said an empty 15-round magazine “was observed in plain view” on a shelf in the bedroom.

Police also found a live round in the bed, plus two empty 10 round magazines on a bureau. They also found district court paperwork for Maldonado, according to a search warrant obtained by Target 12.

At the time of the shooting, Maldonado was on personal recognizance for possession of a stolen vehicle and conspiracy charges out of Pawtucket from just two days prior.

Maldonado was charged with manslaughter and other gun-related violations. He was held without bail last week for violating the terms of his release in the Pawtucket case, and has a status conference for both cases scheduled for Monday.

Maldonado’s court-appointed attorney, Donna Uhlmann, told Target 12 she had no comment.

Alexandra Leslie (aleslie@wpri.com) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook.