Providence — Pain and disbelief still wash over this Rhode Island city after 51-year-old Romy Alfonso died following a brutal attack on Manton Avenue earlier this week. What should have been a normal Monday evening turned into a tragedy that has left families, neighbors, and first responders grieving and asking how something like this could happen here.
Police say officers were called just after 7:20 p.m. Monday to the 249 block of Manton Avenue after reports of a violent assault. Witnesses told investigators that several people knocked Alfonso to the ground and then kicked and punched him repeatedly before fleeing into the night.
Officers found Alfonso injured and rushed him to Rhode Island Hospital, where doctors worked to stabilize him. In the hours that followed, his condition worsened, and on Thursday authorities confirmed he had died from his injuries.
In a heartbreaking twist, police quickly identified and arrested four juveniles believed to be involved. Three are 12 years old and one is 11. They were taken into custody first in connection with a separate disturbance before detectives linked them to the assault.
All four juveniles now face felony charges, including assault and conspiracy, and are being held at the Rhode Island Training School by order of a Family Court judge. Authorities say additional charges related to the separate incident are also pending.
The violence has sent ripples through the Providence community. Neighbors speak quietly about safety, parents worry for their children, and friends remember Alfonso as a gentle presence lost too soon. His death has sparked conversations about youth violence, community support, and what can be done to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Police continue their investigation and have said any further details, including findings from the autopsy, will be released as they become available. For now, a city mourns a life taken too early and wrestles with how to heal.
