Lawyers to make closings in Providence club shooting trial

Published Dec. 7, 2009 at 6:15 p.m.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Closing arguments in the trial of the man accused of spraying the lobby of a local club with bullets are set for this afternoon in Providence Superior Court after the defense opted against presenting any witnesses.

According to police, Jonathan Quaweay came into the lobby of the Sportsman's Inn spraying bullets in retaliation for a fight with an employee earlier that evening on March 24. Three people were hit, including one employee who was shot in the back of the head. A bullet grazed the boot of another employee. All of the shooting victims survived.

Quaweay faces four counts of felony assault, three counts of using a firearm to commit a violent crime and one count each of discharging a firearm while committing a violent crime and carrying a pistol without a license.

Police say that Quaweay was visiting his girlfriend, a dancer at the Sportsman's Inn on Fountain Street, when he got into an altercation with an employee. Quaweay allegedly poured beer on the man's head, and the man summoned some friends and the group began to beat up Quaweay. According to prior testimony, Quaweay and his girlfriend left the club, but police say he returned with the pistol around 1 a.m.

Prosecution testimony restarted Monday morning with the lead Providence Police Detective Michael Otrando taking the stand to talk about failed attempts to locate video of the incident, and answer questions on how witnesses were presented with photo lineups of potential suspects.

After cross-examining Otrando, defense attorneys for Quaweay rested their case. The jury is expected to hear closing arguments and receive the case for deliberation when court resumes at 1:15 p.m.

Extra: Read coverage of Friday's trial testimony.

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