3 arrested after 7 Providence College overdoses
Providence Police arrested three suspects after seven Providence College students overdosed at an off‑campus party last week on Liege Street, where first responders administered Narcan and transported victims to a hospital. A follow‑up search on Hawkins Street seized about 20 grams of fentanyl, $1,700 in cash, two rifles and three handguns including a ghost gun; Angel Williams, 33, and Patrick Patterson, 32, face drug and gun charges and are held without bail, while Kimsheree Simoneau, 33, was charged with possession of a ghost gun and released on $10,000 bond.
📌 Key Facts
- Seven students overdosed at an off‑campus party; all received Narcan and were hospitalized conscious and alert.
- Police seized ~20 grams fentanyl, $1,700 cash, two rifles and three handguns (including a ghost gun) from a Hawkins Street residence.
- Suspects: Angel Williams (33) and Patrick Patterson (32) held without bail on drug/gun charges; Kimsheree Simoneau (33) charged with ghost gun possession and released on $10,000 bond.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2024, the accidental drug overdose death rate in Rhode Island was 42.7 per 100,000 for Non-Hispanic Black individuals, 28.5 per 100,000 for Non-Hispanic White individuals, and 24.3 per 100,000 for Hispanic or Latino individuals, with Non-Hispanic Black Rhode Islanders experiencing the highest burden.
Accidental Drug Overdose Deaths: Rhode Island – January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 — Rhode Island Medical Journal
The racial composition of Rhode Island's population is approximately 69.1% White (Non-Hispanic), 5.05% Black or African American (Non-Hispanic), and about 16% Hispanic or Latino.
Rhode Island | Data USA — Data USA
Illicit fentanyl, primarily manufactured in foreign clandestine labs and smuggled into the United States through Mexico, is being distributed across the country and sold on the illegal drug market.
Facts about Fentanyl — DEA.gov
In 2024, 57% of overdose deaths in Rhode Island involved fentanyl specifically.
Accidental Drug Overdose Deaths: Rhode Island – January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 — Rhode Island Medical Journal