Mery Morales and her son, Armani Villalona, listen to public officials talk about safety issues in Central Falls in the wake of two fatal shootings over the weekend.

The Providence Journal Bob Thayer

CENTRAL FALLS — Reacting to the fear that has gripped this city after two teenagers were shot to death over the weekend, the mayor yesterday imposed a 9 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew for all youths under 18.

After 9 p.m., anyone under 18 who is out on the street must be accompanied by a parent or guardian or the adults could face fines.

“It’s a 10-page document to keep kids off the street and safe,” Mayor Charles Moreau told about 300 people who gathered at the gymnasium of the Ralph Holden Community Center for a meeting to seek reassurance that the children of the city would be safe.

“For a 16-year-old to be shot down on Dexter Street is unacceptable. This is a fight between a group of children. It’s not gangs, it’s not adults. They’re children and we will need parents’ support. Be with your kids. Take them under your wing,” Moreau said, standing at the podium accompanied by the police chief and three captains, city councilors, the superintendent of schools, state representatives, representatives of social agencies and the attorney general.

Journal photo / Bob Thayer

A passerby stops to look at items placed at a memorial on the corner of Dexter and Darling streets in Central Falls in memory of that city's latest shooting victim.

“How are my kids supposed to be safe when they are walking to and from school?” a mother asked.

Police Chief Joseph Moran said there are many police officers on the streets, some in cruisers and other in unmarked cars.

“What we are looking for is the community’s assistance. If you see anything or know of anything that took place, call us,” Moran said. “Police work is only a Band-Aid without community support.”

Yesterday, Moran released the name of the second teenager to die in the weekend shootings: Edelmiro Roman, 16, of West Hunt Street, who attended Central Falls High School. Roman was shot while walking in the area of Dexter and Darling streets Sunday night. Police have not made any arrests in his killing.

Police say it’s possible that Roman’s death was retaliation for the Saturday shooting death of 19-year-old Helder Tomar, of Harvey Street, Pawtucket. From what police could gather from witnesses, Tomar and Anthony Strobert, 19, of Pacific Street in Central Falls, got into a fight in Jenks Park and Tomar pulled out a gun. He shot Strobert, who was able to take the gun from Tomar, and shot and killed him, police say. Strobert, who was being treated at Rhode Island Hospital, was charged with Tomar’s death.

The death of both teenagers and the rumors of retaliation put students and parents on edge. On Monday, parents poured into Central Falls High School to pick up their children.

Yesterday, about 55 percent of the high school students were absent. Supt. Frances Gallo said it was fear of shootings. She was out in front of the high school early in the morning, in the rain, to greet those students who came. “A lot of parents gave their children rides to school today,” she said. The majority of the high school’s students walk to school.

At the end of the school day, as students began to stream out, police stood at various street corners near the school, at Jenks Park and in other parts of the city.

Johanna Flores stood outside at the corner of Perry and Summer streets with her eye on the winding cement staircase that leads to the entrance of the high school, looking for her son, Jose Flores, to come down the stairs. She picks him up every day and, with the shootings, was being even more vigilant.

Keeping children busy is one way to keep them out of trouble, she said. Jose would go to the Ralph Holden Community Center for afterschool activities and then Johanna would bring him his Boy Scout uniform so he could go to his meeting at 6.

“That’s how I keep him busy,” she said.

On Dexter Street, a group of students who had just left school had gathered around a memorial that students had erected to Roman on a light pole near where he had died. Students and adults left white teddy bears, carnations and notes that said “Rest in Peace Musu,” “Stop the Violence” and “We love you.” Puerto Rican flags were wrapped around the pole.

Sonia Mena, a Central Falls High School student, had gone out with Roman for a month when he was killed. She crossed herself as she got near the memorial. Her classmates stood around her.

On Sunday, they had walked along Dexter Street until they were halfway to each of their homes. They said goodbye and walked home alone. Roman headed north toward St. Matthew Church. Mena headed in the opposite direction, toward the high school. Mena ran home. But by the time she got up the stairs to her apartment, she was getting phone calls. Roman had been shot at Dexter and Darling, not far from where they had parted.

“He was nice. He was a good boy. Honest and sweet. To this day I can’t believe it,” Mena said.

“It was mistaken identity,” another student said. “They must have mixed them up.”

His life was taken innocently, said Dairami Encarnacion, a Central Falls High School senior. “This has been the worse senior year. Imagine getting your diploma in Jenks Park [where Central Falls High School holds its graduation], where somebody was killed. When I graduate, I want to get out of here,” she said.

The students feared that retaliation for the shootings would continue between youths from Pawtucket and Central Falls. As they spoke, Jennifer Costa, a friend of Roman’s aunt, walked up to them and told them that she had talked with Roman’s aunt and that the family was not planning to have a wake or public funeral out of fear of more violence.

“All you young kids need to be careful. Pawtucket is not playing. You need to be careful on the street. If you can avoid being outside, do it. You shouldn’t be out here now,” she warned.

Talk of imposing a curfew to keep young people off the streets is not new in Central Falls, but earlier efforts failed to gather enough support to have an impact. In the early l990s, then-Mayor Thomas Lazieh waged several rigorous but futile battles to get council approval for a curfew or “quiet time” ordinance. In September of 1993, after the fatal shooting of a Pawtucket teen, Lazieh apparently bypassed the council and imposed a “voluntary” curfew barring anyone under 16 from the streets from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. The ban did not apply to youths driving or riding in cars.

Carolyn Sheehan, from the Blackstone Academy, a charter school in Pawtucket, said that for the past two days the school had been working with students from Central Falls and Pawtucket who knew the victims of the shooting. “There is a lot of pain, a lot of anger,” she said Inside by 9 p.m.

•Individuals under 18 years of age must be off the streets between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless accompanied by a parent or guardian.

•Juveniles traveling to or from work during the curfew hours must be able to show proof of their employment.

•Parents or guardians of young people who violate the curfew will receive warnings and eventually will be fined.

tpina@projo.com