Police say an 18-year-old arrived at headquarters overnight and was later arraigned on assault and gun charges.
PROVIDENCE, RI — An 18-year-old man suspected in the shooting of two women inside a home on Ayrault Street surrendered to police late Tuesday and faced a judge Wednesday afternoon, authorities said.
Police and prosecutors said the case moved quickly after the daytime shooting Tuesday on the city’s West Side. Investigators identified the teen and contacted his family; by night he turned himself in at Central Station. On Wednesday, he appeared in Providence District Court on two counts of felony assault and several weapons charges. The victims, ages 18 and 19, were hurt inside a living room, according to interviews taken at the hospital. The episode has stirred fresh concerns about guns in homes and among young people in Providence as winter weather continues to strain first responders across the city.
Officers were called just before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday to a multi-family residence on Ayrault Street, between Chalkstone Avenue and Valley Street. Inside, they found two young women with gunshot wounds and evidence of close-range fire. Prosecutors told the court that the suspect, identified as Gabriel Laboy, had taken out a handgun while in the apartment with people he knew and fired once, striking both victims as they sat on a couch. “Two females were shot; one is in serious condition,” Maj. David Lapatin said Tuesday. Detectives collected shell casings and other ballistic evidence and interviewed witnesses at the scene and at the hospital.
Laboy arrived at Providence police headquarters later that night and was booked on a slate of charges that include two felony assaults, possession of a firearm while committing a crime of violence, carrying a pistol without a permit, criminal negligence, and discharging a firearm in a compact area. In court Wednesday around 2 p.m., a prosecutor said the women told investigators the teen had been “playing” with the gun and “joking” immediately before it fired. The victims were described as acquaintances of the suspect. Their names were not released. Hospital officials did not provide an update on their conditions Wednesday evening, and police said one remained more seriously hurt than the other.
Court records noted that Laboy had a separate gun case pending and had appeared in court Dec. 12. A judge initially set bail at $100,000 on the new charges but then ordered him held without bail as an alleged bail violator tied to the earlier case. The order means he will remain in custody while the violation is addressed and the new case moves forward. The next court date in the new matter is set for Monday. The courtroom gallery was quiet during the brief arraignment; no relatives of the victims chose to speak, and the defense did not enter a plea beyond standard not-guilty entries at this stage.
The shooting unfolded in a part of Providence where police have responded to several recent violent incidents, including domestic-related calls and youth-involved cases, according to department summaries. Ayrault Street is a narrow, residential block of three-deckers and small apartment houses, where neighbors said weekday mornings are usually busy with deliveries and snow clearing. While Tuesday’s gunfire was not tied to a larger pattern, officials said the case fits an ongoing challenge: unsecured weapons in close quarters, mishandling by young owners, and harm to bystanders who know the shooter. The department said it continues to take statements from other witnesses who were in and around the apartment.
Detectives are reviewing physical evidence from the couch area and living room, including the shell casing recovered and photographs documenting bullet trajectory, according to a police narrative read in court. The handgun used in the shooting was not described in detail at arraignment, and investigators did not say where the teen obtained it. Police said both victims were taken by rescue to area hospitals within minutes of the 10:30 a.m. call. One woman was treated for more serious injuries; the second’s wound was described as less severe. Investigators said they believe the suspect and both women knew one another before Tuesday, and there was no sign of a forced entry or a broader threat to the neighborhood.
Under Rhode Island law, the felony assault counts can carry significant prison time if a weapon is involved. The added charge of possessing a firearm during a crime of violence increases exposure at sentencing. Carrying without a permit is a separate offense that can be prosecuted alongside the assault case. Because the judge found a bail violation linked to the Dec. 12 gun matter, Laboy was ordered held without bail pending a violation hearing. Prosecutors said formal charging documents will be presented to the Attorney General’s office after additional witness interviews and ballistic testing are complete. Police said they expect to provide the next public update after Monday’s court session.
Neighbors described a fast, heavy response on the snow-lined block as cruisers and rescue units arrived. A resident who asked to be identified only as Maria said she heard “one loud pop, then people yelling” before sirens filled the street. Another neighbor said officers moved quickly to tape off the front steps and guide families away from the entrance while medics worked inside. Outside Providence District Court on Wednesday, a small group of friends of the victims waited for word on their conditions. “They’re young,” one friend said through tears. “We just want them to heal.” Police Chief Oscar Perez did not take questions after arraignment, but the department said investigators remain in contact with the women’s families.
As of Thursday morning, no additional arrests had been made. Police said the investigation is active and focused on interviews and lab work, including tests to determine the firing distance and whether the weapon malfunctioned. Detectives are also checking nearby cameras for any footage that may show people entering or leaving the apartment around the time of the shooting. The case returns to court Monday, when a judge will take up the alleged bail violation and set a schedule for the new charges. Further medical updates for the victims were not available.
Author note: Last updated January 30, 2026.