Murder suspect, victim friends as kids

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Providence man accused of gunning down a childhood friend turned rival gang member Sunday night was arraigned Tuesday afternoon in Providence District Court.

According to police, Donald Young, 20, is one of three men who opened fire on a car on Trask St. around 8 p.m. Sunday. Two people were shot, including Kasean Benton, 19. Benton died from his injuries. The other victim was grazed by a bullet and survived the shooting.

Police arrested Young Monday night on charges of murder and felony assault with a fire arm. They found him hiding in the bathroom of a house on the city's Westend.

In court on Tuesday, Young's attorney claims he is innocent and says he has an alibi for the night of the murder.

"There is a completely different side of this story that I unfortunately just can't comment on right now at this point. The other side is that there was a party going on for his mother, a birthday party where several family members were present and in which he was actually in attendance at, at the exact same time that this incident took place," said defense lawyerm, Joseph Voccola.

While investigators search for the other two gunmen, neighbors say they are dismayed.

"I'm overwhelmed," said neighbor Michelle Sullivan. "I'm sad because it's on my street. I'm sad because I saw that boy's mother and sisters and brothers crying on my street about the death of her son."