PAWTUCKET – On Aug. 25, at around 11:30 p.m., Pawtucket police officers were dispatched to 560 Prospect St. for a report of several shots fired. Upon arrival, officers learned that nine shots had been fired into an apartment and the surrounding area.
One of the bullets entered a child’s bedroom and struck the headboard. Once patrol officers secured the scene, major crime detectives were notified and responded to begin the investigation.
Over the course of the next several hours, detectives, with the assistance of Flock license plate reading technology, identified a vehicle tied to the incident. That data, along with surveillance video, placed the vehicle at the scene of the shooting.
Later that morning, the driver of the vehicle was stopped, its occupants were detained, and the vehicle was seized as part of the ongoing investigation.
The investigation confirmed Jose Lugo, Jr., 20, and Skyla Vaillant, 21, were involved in the shooting.
Both Lugo and Vaillant have been charged with:
• Felony Assault
• Firing in a compact area
• Conspiracy
The investigation is still ongoing and may lead to additional charges, said police in a release.
“The Pawtucket Police Department would like to recognize the investigative efforts of the major crime detectives and patrol officers involved in this case,” stated the release. The use of Flock LPR technology, in conjunction with traditional investigative methods and surveillance footage, played a significant role in identifying the vehicle of interest and locating the suspects within a matter of hours.”
