8.7.2000
Suspect surrenders after shooting 4 at Providence streeet fair


By JONATHAN D. ROCKOFF
Journal Staff Writer

Journal photo / Rachel Ritchie A man holding a gun, right, leaves the Puerto Rican street fair in Providence yesterday after four people were wounded. View a slideshow of the sequence of events at the street festival.

PROVIDENCE / Updated 9:15 a.m. -- A 38-year-old Massachusetts man who allegedly shot his girlfriend's ex-husband and injured three bystanders at a street fair yesterday turned himself into Boston police late last night and was scheduled to be arraigned this morning.

David Fontanes, of Roslindale, Mass., will be charged with four counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, the Providence police said. The arraignment is taking place in District Court in Roxbury, Mass. If Fontanes waives extradition, he could return to Rhode Island as early as today.

Fontanes is accused of shooting Luis Colon, 39, in the chest at a Puerto Rican festival. Colon was taken to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition this morning, according to the hospital.

Fontanes fired at Colon after Colon ran into one of his daughters at the festival, the police said. Fontanes initially missed Colon, but chased after him and shot him.

A bleeding Colon staggered down a street near the hospital before collapsing beside a concession stand, where bystanders picked him up and carried him a half mile to the hospital, a witness said.

After the 4:30 p.m. shooting, Fontanes, who was photographed by a Providence Journal photographer, held his revolver at his side and fled on foot through confused crowds that ducked for cover and ran through the South Providence streets.

Two other victims were middle-aged women. One was in satisfactory condition this morning at Rhode Island Hospital; the second had been treated and released. A 13-year-old boy was treated yesterday and released.

The events surprised the police, who said they did not know about the Puerto Rican festival, though the chief organizer said he contacted the police, but could not afford a security detail.

The shooting was followed by a spontaneous demonstration on Broad Street, where youths waving Puerto Rican flags stopped their cars at intersections and others filled the street, blocking traffic.

Police Chief Urbano Prignano Jr. and Maj. Martin F. Hames, his top deputy, dispersed the crowds and directed cars themselves until the first of the 14 extra officers called into duty could arrive to quell the disturbance.

The shooting took place a day after the city's 16th murder, the third in the last three weeks.

At a late-night news conference, Mayor Vincent A. Cianci Jr. attacked the easy availability of handguns. Cianci described the city as safe, noting that Saturday night's WaterFire attracted 50,000 without incident.

Yesterday's unrest marred what witnesses and festival organizers described as a joyous street fair, one filled with Latin music, breakdancing and Puerto Rican food in memory of Tito Puente, the late bandleader.

It was the third year for the half-day long fair, which organizers said attracted 2,500 revelers to Borinquen and Culvert Streets, crowding the blocks-long area and nearby parking lots belonging to Rhode Island Hospital.

While Osvaldo Castillo, the festival's president, thanked local businesses for their support over a public address system, shots rang out. Castillo said many in the crowd fell to the ground, while others ran away.

The shooting took place in front of a concession stand, at Borinquen and Culver Streets, which sold clocks and posters, including one placard depicting Tupac Shakur, the slain rap star. The framed poster was inscribed with the years of Shakur's life.

The dispute stemmed from a chance meeting between Colon and his 12-year-old daughter, the police said.

Colon had nine children with Lucy Vega, the police said. The couple had divorced, the police said, and Vega has been dating Fontanes.

After Colon talked with his daughter, Fontanes confronted Colon. The police said Fontanes held a wooden flagpole to Colon's throat.

The flagpole broke, the police said, and Fontanes drew a revolver from his back pocket.

The police said Fontanes fired, missing Colon but hitting Idis Ramon, 49, of 343 Plainfield St.; Maria Dellacruz, 44, of 100 Broad St., Apt. 223; and Eugenio Del Castillo, 13, of 121 Putnam St. Dellacruz remains hospitalized this morning.

Witnesses said the target ran down Borinquen Street with the gunman chasing. The police said Fontanes caught up with Colon and shot him in the chest.

Then Fontanes fled. Witnesses said crowds cleared a path in the street for him. A photograph taken by The Providence Journal shows a tattooed Fontanes running away holding a revolver by his side.

Hector Ortiz, owner of the Pincho King concession stand, saw Colon stagger up to his stall before falling to the ground. Ortiz said bystanders lifted Colon over a fence and then lugged him to the hospital.

"If we had some police protection, which we did not have, that guy would not have got shot," Ortiz complained. Festival President Castillo said he wanted a police detail but could not afford it.

But Chief Prignano disputed that account, saying Castillo never contacted the police. The chief said the police would have provided a detail free of charge if told about the festivities.

"We knew nothing about it, or else we would have prepared," Prignano said.

City officials could not confirm late last night whether the festival had proper permits. The mayor said Rhode Island Hospital gave use of parking lots and assigned extra security, but a hospital spokesman could not confirm that.

Prignano said they did not anticipate last night's revelling, prompting the chief to call in 10 officers and four mounted police to restore calm and the orderly flow of traffic.

"Nothing militant," Prignano told a sergeant.

"Keep the lights and sirens going," Major Hames ordered over the police radio. "We don't need to lock anybody up. Just keep it moving."

In searching for the alleged gunman late last night, the police were using a photograph taken by a Providence Journal photographer who was taking pictures of the street fair when the shooting took place.

The photographer, Rachel Ritchie, said an officer confiscated her two cameras and film using force as she entered the newspaper building, saying the police needed the photogrpahs as evidence.

Ritchie said the officer, Patrolman Peter Flynn, grabbed her by the arm, twisted her arm behind her back and forced her to the ground before she agreed to relinquish the film and go to the police station.

Cianci said the police did not use excessive force.

The police eventually agreed to return the cameras and film, so it could be developed. The Journal furnished several photographs of the alleged gunman to the police.

The mayor showed the photographs at his news conference, calling it "one of the best pieces of evidence The City of Providence has ever had."

"I don't think Clarence Darrow, Alan Dershowitz and Oliver Wendell Holmes could get you off this one," the mayor said, referring to the alleged gunman.

Back to: RI News	Printer-Friendly Version
Read/Post to our Bulletin Board on this topic