Jury finds Central Falls man guilty of murder

 

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced that a Central Falls man has been found guilty by a jury in Providence County Superior Court of the 2014 murder of 38-year-old Robert Bullard in Providence.

 

On February 21, 2024, following the conclusion of a five-day jury trial before Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause, the jury found Malcolm Querido (age 36) guilty of one count of second-degree murder.

 

The defendant is currently being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI).

 

“It is always a tragedy when someone is murdered, but it’s easy to forget the impact that reverberates out from a single death,” said Attorney General Neronha. “In a moment’s decision, this defendant hastily killed another man over a petty dispute, leaving the victim’s loved ones behind to suffer. He will now finally face the consequences of his crime. I am grateful to the Providence Police Department for their hard work and collaboration in this case.”

 

During the trial, the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant murdered Robert Bullard, stabbing him to death after a dispute between the victim and a woman.

 

On September 7, 2014, the victim arranged to with a female at an Allston Street apartment in Providence, which she shared with the defendant. An argument ensued and the woman began to yell at which point the defendant burst into the room and stabbed the victim to death. The woman called 911 and the defendant fled the scene. First responders transported the victim to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

 

“Accountability for those who commit violent crime is paramount to maintaining public safety,” said Providence Police Colonel Oscar L. Perez. “I am thankful for the hard work of our officers and investigators, as well as the Office of the Attorney General, for their investigation and prosecution of this case.”

 

Assistant Attorney General Eric Batista and Special Assistant Attorney General Alison Bittl of the Office of the Attorney General and Detective Robert Washburn (retired), Detective Bill Mattera, and BCI Detective Doug Allin (retired) of the Providence Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.

 

 

There are reports the Justice Department is investigating Minnesota's governor and the Minneapolis mayor. Multiple outlets cite U.S. officials saying Governor Tim Walz and Mayor Jacob Frey are being investigated for allegedly obstructing federal law enforcement. One official says the investigation centers on statements the two leaders have made about the thousands of ICE and Border Patrol agents deployed to Minneapolis. Their presence has sparked protests, which have grown since the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer last week.        Court is done for the week in the Charlie Kirk assassination case in Utah. Lawyers for Tyler Robinson, the man accused of shooting the conservative personality at a rally in September, argued a key prosecutor has a family member who was present at the time Kirk was shot. They say that communications between them raise concerns over impartiality and the prosecution's decision to seek the death penalty, and argue the prosecutor should be disqualified.        President Trump says he currently doesn't have reason to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minnesota. Before leaving the White House for Florida on Friday, Trump was asked about using the act as protests continue in Minneapolis. Trump said there's no reason to use it at this time, adding, that if he "needed it, it's available" to him. The Insurrection Act would give Trump the authority to deploy the military to suppress a rebellion on American soil.        Virginia Senate Democrats are sending a redistricting amendment to voters for approval. If voters support the amendment in a special election, which is expected to be on the spring ballot, the Legislature would be able to redraw the state's congressional map before midterms. Democrats currently have a six-five edge in the state's congressional delegation, looking to control either a ten-one or nine-two split for the new map.        Renee Good was unresponsive when first responders arrived after she was shot by an ICE agent last week in Minneapolis. A newly released incident report from the Minneapolis Fire Department offered more clarity into the incident, with Good having two apparent gunshot wounds to her right chest, one on her left forearm and another possible wound on the left side of her head. Good's killing has led to protests nationwide, while the Trump administration is calling her a "domestic terrorist."        Bad Bunny is previewing his upcoming Super Bowl halftime show performance. The video shows the singer walking through a forest while playing a song from his most recent album, soon joined by dancers off all different ages and cultures. It ends with a message saying "the world" - all different ages, races and styles - "will dance." Bad Bunny's choice as the headliner of the halftime show has drawn conservative backlash, with the Trump Administration threatening to have ICE agents at the game.