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Man accused of killing Providence building's landlord


Providence police were visible outside a home on Prudence Avenue where a shooting was reported, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (WJAR)
Providence police were visible outside a home on Prudence Avenue where a shooting was reported, Monday, Jan. 30, 2023. (WJAR)
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The first Rhode Islander charged with having an outlawed high-capacity magazine is also charged with murder.

Providence police said Tuesday that a man using a semi-automatic rifle shot and killed the landlord when she came to evict him the day before.

One tenant who was inside the home when everything went down was packing bags Tuesday to move out of the building. The person said the landlord was kind and didn’t deserve this.

"Everybody just heard three to four gunshots go off and then after that it was just kind of crazy," said the resident, who wanted to remain anonymous.

Police cars and caution tape blocked of Prudence Avenue Monday afternoon.

Providence police said 36-year-old Rufus Watson was staying in his cousin’s apartment on the third floor. The landlord, 35-year-old Jennie Jensen, wanted him out and went up to the third floor with two other people.

"It eventually led to them kicking in the door," Maj. David Lapatin said at a news conference.

Police said Watson opened fire with an AR-15 rifle being fed by a magazine holding more than 10 bullets, the type of magazine that Rhode Island outlawed last year.

The suspect claims he shot in self-defense because someone Jensen was with was also armed.

Brooke Santilli lives down the street and said the entire neighborhood came outside to see what was happening.

"The world is getting crazy, so everybody just has to take care of themselves," Santilli said.

Police said Watson is from South Carolina and has a criminal record.

"He was actually just like a squatter, like drug addict, just, weird," the tenant said.

Police say Watson is being charged with five felony gun charges and held on $100,000 bail.

The tenant says Jensen was a great landlord and didn’t deserve this.

"She was really like an understanding person and like she was the sweetest person she would give you as many chances as you want. She doesn’t bother anybody, so whatever happened was real unnecessary," the tenant said.

Police said once they finish the investigation it will go to a grand jury.


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