Case Profiles #72
Lucinio Javier Arauz Bastardo
Lucinio Javier Arauz Bastardo was born in Panama and moved to Rhode Island with his family as a young child. Lucinio was described as being loving and caring - a boy who grew up loving his family and being very close to his mom. Lucinio grew up with a strong academic background as he was a great student who consistently made honor roll. He was also an excellent baseball player, even from a young age, who was often highlighted in several newspaper articles for his talents and his sportsmanship. He had represented Panama in several games in other countries and even was named a National Champion in his positions of both catcher and infielder. On July 11th, 2021, Lucinio was playing basketball with some neighborhood kids in Providence, Rhode Island, when a dark-colored car pulled up. A masked man jumped out of the car and began firing shots before hopping back in the car and fleeing. A lot of the kids playing basketball scattered, but unfortunately the damage had already been done. Lucinio had been shot, and after emergency services were called, he was brought to Rhode Island Hospital where he later died of his injuries. Police immediately suspected gang activity despite various sources saying Lucinio wasn’t affiliated with any gangs. A little less than two weeks after Lucinio’s murder, Kelvin Ayala was arrested for being the getaway driver. However, some time later and without explanation, he was deemed to be the wrong guy and was released, much to the frustration of Lucinio’s family. As of today, there have been no answers as to who killed Lucinio Bastardo. If you have any information that could lead to an arrest, please contact Commanding Officer Major David A. Lapatin at dlapatin@providenceri.gov or call (401)-243–6111.
Gabrielle Lee
11-year-old Gabrielle Lee was described as outgoing, bubbly and active. She was a fifth grader at Elm City College Prep and was a great student. Gabrielle loved running, dancing and singing and participated in singing and dancing in a bunch of talent contests. She was also described as a girls girl, always eager to go shopping and having the time of her life as a flower girl, which she was in four different weddings. She and her family were Jehovah’s Witnesses and she had three siblings. On June 4th, 2008, at around 9:30 p.m., Gabrielle was walking across Whalley Avenue from the Top Kat Laundromat in New Haven, Connecticut. She was helping her mom and brother carry laundry when she and her 13-year-old brother Jeffrey began crossing the street as they had the green light to cross. A car came speeding down the street, and Jeffrey jumped back onto the curb but Gabrielle tried to run to the other side of the street. The car struck Gabrielle and sped off, and Gabrielle was killed. Police think that the car might have been a Volkswagen Jetta and that it was a dark color. They have also revealed that there may have been a possible witness who was behind the car on a bicycle and may also know the occupants in the car.
Gabrielle’s tragic death was the second recent fatal accident of a pedestrian crossing the street in Connecticut. Less than two months before Gabrielle’s death, a Yale medical student named Mila Rainof was struck by a car and killed when crossing the intersection at York Street and South Frontage. This sparked major change with multiple town hall meetings and the implementation of policies and redesign of bike paths and crosswalks to keep pedestrians safer from traffic.
Gabrielle’s father, Jeffrey Lee Sr., stated “We knew it wasn’t premeditated. The person didn’t go out to do that that. When he hit her, he didn’t say, ‘I’m going to go out and hit a little girl.’ I have no malice against this person. I don’t want this person to spend his life in jail. I do want justice. As Jehovah’s Witnesses, we are not involved in the political process. That doesn’t mean I’m not interested in justice.” There is a $10,000 reward for anyone with any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible. Anyone with any information on the fatal accident that took the life of Gabrielle Lee is asked to please call New Haven police at 203-946-8584.
Image sources:
medium.com - “The Untimely Death of Lucinio Javier Arauz Bastardo”
legacy.com - “Gabrielle Alexis Lee”