7-year-old girl shot in Providence has died

A 7-year-old who was shot in Providence last week while sitting in a car with her father and brother has died, police said Monday.

The little girl was left in critical condition following the Thursday evening shooting on Florence Street, and she succumbed to her injuries several days later at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, the Providence Police Department said in a statement. 

As a result, two suspects in the shooting — Ahmari Cabrera, 19, and Shaheem Nathaniel, 26 — will be charged with murder, according to police. Cabrera and Nathaniel are also facing numerous firearms violations, authorities said.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victim involved in this tragic incident, resulting in the death of an innocent child,” Providence police said. “We will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this incident and further charges may be forthcoming.”

Boston.com has reached out to Nathaniel’s defense attorney for comment; it was not immediately clear whether Cabrera had a lawyer who could comment on the charges. Online court records indicate each defendant is facing a total of 11 counts, including charges of carrying a pistol or revolver without a license and manufacturing, selling, purchasing, or possessing an undetectable “ghost gun” or 3D-printed firearm. 

Providence Deputy Chief of Police Timothy O’Hara previously told reporters the child was “absolutely not” the intended target in the shooting, though he said there was some interaction between the car’s driver and the suspects prior the gunfire, according to The Providence Journal. 

“Right now, we know the who; the why is what we’re working on,” O’Hara said Friday, according to The Providence Journal.

Mayor Brett P. Smiley reflected on the fatal shooting in a statement provided to Boston.com. 

“My thoughts and heartfelt prayers are with the victim’s family and all those in our community impacted by this devastating incident,” Smiley said. “I am proud of the Providence Police Department’s continued dedication to protecting our neighborhoods but I know that at the state, local and community level we all need to do more to prevent incidents like this from happening again.”