Central Falls man sentenced to double-life following 2020 murder
Published on Friday, August 08, 2025
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Central Falls man has been sentenced in Providence County Superior Court to serve two consecutive life sentences at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) for the murder of 22-year-old Joel Rosario in 2020.
On August 7, 2025, Superior Court Justice Maureen B. Keough sentenced Jairo Esdel Galva (age 26) to serve two consecutive life sentences at the ACI, plus 30 years to run concurrently. On March 12, 2025, following the conclusion of a 17-day jury trial, a jury found the defendant guilty of one count of second-degree murder, one count of discharging a firearm when committing a crime of violence resulting in death, one count of committing a drive-by shooting, and one count of carrying a firearm without a license.
“Once again, our community must bear witness to senseless gun violence and its reverberations,” said Attorney General Neronha. “This case is yet another example of the tragedies that ensue when guns fall into the hands of those ready and willing to use them. I hope that this life sentence provides some sense of closure for Joel’s family and friends. I want to thank the Pawtucket Police Department for their partnership on this investigation.”
During the trial, the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant shot and killed Joel Rosario on Lonsdale Avenue in Pawtucket.
On October 31, 2020, Pawtucket Police responded to a call for shots fired on Lonsdale Avenue in Pawtucket. Upon arrival, officers learned that Joel Rosario had been shot in the chest and had been transported to Miriam Hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
Police interviewed several witnesses who noted that Joel and the defendant had a contentious history. According to their testimony, the defendant’s Jeep Cherokee had followed a Toyota Corolla, where Joel was the front seat passenger. When the Corolla stopped at a traffic light on Lonsdale Avenue, Joel exited the vehicle and began arguing with the defendant, who was seated in his Jeep. During the argument, the defendant fired a single shot through the open passenger window of his vehicle, striking the victim in the chest, before quickly fleeing the scene in his vehicle.
Several witnesses positively identified the defendant as the shooter and the sole occupant of the Jeep Cherokee. Further investigation revealed that the defendant did not have a license to possess a firearm.
Pawtucket Police ultimately arrested the defendant on November 4, 2020.
“I am grateful to the men and women of the Pawtucket Police Department and our partners at the Attorney General’s Office for their work to hold this defendant to account,” said Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves. “Gun violence, especially in cases with tragic outcomes like this one, has impacts throughout the community, and we will continue our fierce pursuit of justice.”
Assistant Attorney General John Perrotta and Special Assistant Attorney General Gregory Moore of the Attorney General’s Office and Detective Andrew Torres of the Pawtucket Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.