Digital Extra: The shooting of Sgt. Cornel Young Jr.

Today is one of the saddest days in the history of the Providence Police Department. Early this morning, Officer Cornell Young Jr. a three-year veteran of our department, age 29, son of Major Cornell Young Sr., was fatally wounded while going to the aid of fellow officers who were confronted by a man with a gun.

Just before 1:41 a.m. a fight broke out inside Fida's restaurant located on Valley Street at Atwells Avenue. The fight, which started inside the restaurant involved two females, one of whom broke a glass and attempted to slash the other. Police were dispatched to Fida's after a telephone call was made by a restaurant employee reporting this fight.

The fight then spilled outside Fida's restaurant into the parking lot. At that point one of the females, identified as: Christa Calder, age 27, of 10 Sunset View Road, Gray, Maine, began screaming to her male companion to "get the gun."

Two uniformed police officers arrived on the scene and were confronted by Aldrin Diaz, age 29 of 115 Colfax Street, Providence, who was brandishing a gun. The officers drew their service pistols and ordered the suspect to drop his weapon.

While the officers confronted this first suspect, Officer Young, in an act of heroism ran from inside the restaurant to assist his brother officers. Officer Young was off-duty prior to his decision to act and therefore was not in uniform.

The two officers did not recognize Officer Young as a police officer and as the first suspect dropped his gun, they ordered Officer Young to drop his gun. While we will not speculate, it appears at this point that Officer Young did not realize that the Officers did not recognize him and were ordering him to drop his firearm.

When Officer Young did not drop his firearm, the two officers fired at Officer Young believing he was a second suspect with a firearm about to open fire.

It is important to point out that the responsibility for this tragic incident lies with the suspect Aldrin Diaz who introduced the use of a firearm into this disturbance.

Please recognize that this investigation is in its earliest stages and will continue. The entire matter will be turned over to Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse's office for review. Aldrin Diaz,, is being charged with Felony Murder, Assault with a Deadly Weapon and Illegal Possession of a Firearm.

Major Cornell Young and his family are asking that the privacy of the Young family be respected during their time of grief. Let it be known that this is a time of grief for our entire Providence Police Family.