Providence murder suspect arrested

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Providence police have arrested a suspect wanted in connection to the city's latest murder.

Donald Young, 20, was arrested on Monday night on charges of murder and felony assault with a firearm in the shooting death of Kasean Benton, 19.

Police say they responded to a home on the West End of the city and found Young hiding out in a bathroom inside the residence.

Colonel Dean Esserman stated “I would like to thank the community for the trust they placed in the Providence Police Department and their assistance to our Detectives. Providence Police Detectives worked thru the night and today to successfully apprehend the suspect in last nights murder. Their tireless efforts to bring justice to the family of the deceased need to be acknowledged."

The murder happened Sunday on Trask Street at 7:50 p.m. According to police Benton's car pulled up to a friend's house when three people opened fire on the vehicle.

"I heard boom, boom, boom, boom," said neighbor Michelle Sullivan. "I thought it was a firecrack, because it is July."

Benton's friend was grazed by a bullet and was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. However, police said Benton apparently ran into a nearby yard and collapsed. A neighbor discovered his body about an hour after the shooting. Police believe the shooting is gang-related.

A search of the Eyewitness News archives revealed Benton appears to be the same person who was stabbed in the chest in February 2008 during an altercation at a Cranston bowling alley.

The murder is Providence's fourth in a week and the eleventh of 2009.