Jury convicts Providence man for drive-by killing of 24-year-old Miya Brophy-Baermann
Published on Thursday, June 29, 2023
Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Providence man has been found guilty in Providence County Superior Court of murder and related assault and firearms counts stemming from a 2021 gang-related shooting that killed 24-year-old Miya Brophy-Baermann.
On June 29, 2023, following the conclusion of a nine-day jury trial before Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause, the jury found Isaiah Pinkerton (age 26) guilty of one count of murder; one count of conspiracy to commit murder; one count of discharge of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, resulting in death; one count of committing a drive-by shooting; two counts of possession of a ghost gun; two counts of carrying a pistol without a license; two counts of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person; one count of assault with intent to commit murder; and one count of discharge of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, resulting in no injury.
The defendant is currently being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) pending his sentencing hearing to be held on a later date.
During the trial, the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that during the early morning hours on Sunday, August 1, 2021, the defendant participated in a drive-by shooting on Olney Street in Providence using a Polymer80 ghost gun, killing Miya Brophy-Baermann. The jury also convicted the defendant on charges of possessing a Polymer80 ghost gun on December 12, 2021.
“It has been nearly two years since Miya lost her life, and while we are painfully aware that nothing can return her to her family and friends, I hope this verdict brings some semblance of peace to everyone impacted by this unnecessary and tragic loss,” said Attorney General Peter F. Neronha. “The State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was responsible for this senseless murder, and the jury decided swiftly and decisively to return a guilty verdict on all counts. I am grateful to the Providence Police Department for their outstanding work and partnership during the investigation and prosecution of this complex case.”
On the morning of August 1, 2021, Providence Police responded to reports of a shooting on Olney Street in Providence and arrived on scene as rescue personnel were transporting the victim, Miya Brophy Baermann, to Rhode Island Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
In the days following, investigators obtained surveillance footage which showed a dark colored sedan driving past the scene of the crime, opening fire upon the victims, and fleeing. They also recovered two 9 mm cartridge cases in the roadway and one fragmented bullet from the victim’s vehicle, all of which were sent to the RI State Crime Lab for analysis. During the course of the investigation, detectives were able to obtain combination of surveillance, phone location data, DNA, and ballistics.
Four months later, on December 12, 2021, Providence Police conducted a routine motor vehicle stop of a Hyundai Elantra, of which the defendant was a passenger. Officers also located a backpack that was tossed from the vehicle prior to the stop, which contained a ghost gun. The defendant was then brought into the police station where he consented to a buccal swab to obtain his DNA.
Investigators ran the gun through the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) database, which indicated that the gun was a possible match to the gun used during the August 1, 2021 shooting. Experts did further analysis to confirm the accuracy of the findings and they determined that the spent casings from the scene on Olney Street were expelled from that recovered ghost gun.
Prior to sending it for analysis, investigators took swabs of the gun to submit for DNA analysis. Shortly after, they confirmed the presence of the defendant’s DNA on the gun, magazine, and the backpack it was found in.
“The men and women of the Providence Police Department commit themselves every day to serve the community to the best of their ability, ensuring public safety and holding criminals accountable for their senseless actions,” said Providence Police Chief Oscar Perez. “I commend the officers who investigated this case, specifically Detective Sergeant Timothy McGann and Detective Theodore Michael, and thank the Office of the Attorney General for their continued partnership.”
Special Assistant Attorneys General Stephen Dambruch and Alison Bittl of the Office of the Attorney General and Detectives Sergeant Timothy McGann and Theodore Michael of the Providence Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.
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