On January 30, 2023, a dispute over housing in Providence, Rhode Island, turned deadly when 35-year-old landlord and mother Jennie Zoe Jensen was shot at an apartment building on Prudence Avenue. Jensen, described by family and friends as vibrant, sweet, caring, and outgoing, had gone with two others, including her brother, to a third-floor unit to evict 36-year-old Rufus Watson, who was reportedly staying there without paying rent. The apartment door was kicked in and Watson, who was inside, opened fire with an AR-15 style rifle. Jensen was taken to a hospital and died of her injuries; the two men who came with her fled and were not injured.

Providence police arrested Watson. He said he acted in self-defense and alleged the people who entered his apartment were armed; investigators said Watson was the only person who fired. Officers recovered an AR-15 style rifle, a ghost gun, and a magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds, which is illegal in Rhode Island. Watson was charged with multiple firearms offenses including possession of a firearm after a conviction for a crime of violence, possession of a large capacity magazine, and possession of a ghost gun, and was held on $100,000 bail. Authorities said the investigation was ongoing and the matter could go to a grand jury to consider charges related to Jensen’s death.

Does anyone have information about Jensen, the eviction attempt, or what happened inside that apartment?