CRANSTON RHODE ISLAND, Authorities have announced murder and firearms charges against a Bristol County man following a fatal shooting in Cranston that investigators say is connected to a later double-fatal crash in Swansea, Massachusetts.
According to Cranston Police, officers responded around 8:34 p.m. Thursday to Legion Way for a report of a man who had been shot. Upon arrival, they found 35-year-old Javon Lawson inside the residence suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was transported to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 9:09 p.m.
Preliminary findings indicate that people inside the home heard banging at a side door. When Lawson approached, gunfire was discharged from outside the residence, striking him. Shell casings were recovered both inside and outside the entrance.
Investigators canvassed the area and reviewed surveillance footage, which showed a masked individual dressed in dark clothing approaching the home and fleeing shortly after the shooting. The person was seen running to a white Infiniti sedan parked nearby, which then left the scene.
A license plate reader later captured the vehicle traveling northbound on Route 10 and subsequently in Fall River and Westport, Massachusetts. Police determined the vehicle was registered to 28-year-old Demitri Sousa of Seekonk, Massachusetts.
Through witness interviews and additional investigation, authorities identified Sousa as the primary suspect. Police said there had been a prior dispute between Sousa and Lawson involving a mutual female acquaintance.
Around 12:45 a.m., Sousa was taken into custody by Massachusetts authorities following a crash in Swansea that resulted in two fatalities. Inside the white Infiniti, investigators located a .22 caliber pistol believed to be connected to the shooting. Additional ammunition was reportedly recovered at Rhode Island Hospital, where Sousa was transported with serious injuries.
Cranston Police obtained a warrant charging Sousa with murder, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license. He remains hospitalized and in custody pending arraignment.
The identities of the two individuals killed in the Swansea crash have not yet been released. Additional charges in Massachusetts are expected.
The investigation remains active, with Cranston Police working alongside the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, Massachusetts State Police, and the Bristol County District Attorney’s Office.
Authorities emphasized that all individuals are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
