William Parsons was a 15-year-old sophomore at Central High School in Providence with hopes of becoming a Rhode Island State Trooper. On the afternoon of September 5, 2018, he was waiting for a ride outside the Providence Career and Technical Academy when gunfire erupted during a dispute he was not involved in. A bullet meant for another person struck William in the face and neck, killing him.

The altercation began with a verbal argument involving 16-year-old Joel Loarca and two other juveniles. After an exchange of aggressive words, Loarca drew a .357 Magnum Taurus revolver and fired; the stray round hit William. As students fled, Loarca fled as well, accidentally shooting himself in the thigh. Surveillance showed him hopping and concealing the revolver; police later recovered the weapon. Loarca was arrested, tried in adult court, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and multiple weapons and assault charges, and received a life sentence plus 10 years in August 2019. William’s family remembered him as kind, caring, and respectful.

Did anyone who knew William at school or nearby that day see something that could add detail to what happened?