Miya Brophy-baern

In the early morning hours of August 1, 2021, a promising life was tragically cut short on Olney Street in Providence, Rhode Island. Miya Brophy-Baern, a 24-year-old White/Caucasian woman, was standing by a car, saying goodbye to her friend, when a dark-colored sedan drove past. Gunfire erupted from the vehicle, striking Miya in what authorities would later describe as a senseless act of gun violence. She was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital but was pronounced dead. In an instant, a young woman who had just begun to realize her dreams was gone, leaving a community in shock and a family devastated. Police believed she was an innocent bystander, not the intended target of the attack.

The death of Miya, a recent graduate of Northeastern University with a master's degree in speech pathology, left a void in the lives of those who knew her. Described as a selfless and optimistic person with an incredible work ethic, she was just weeks into her new career. For more than a year, the case remained a public mystery, compounding the grief of her loved ones. Investigators worked tirelessly, piecing together evidence from the scene, including surveillance footage of the fleeing vehicle and two 9mm cartridge cases recovered from the roadway. The investigation, however, seemed to have stalled, with no suspects publicly identified.

A significant breakthrough in the case came months later, on December 12, 2021. Providence Police conducted a routine traffic stop of a Hyundai Elantra. During the stop, officers located a backpack that had been tossed from the vehicle, and inside it, they found a Polymer80 "ghost gun." This untraceable firearm was sent for analysis, and through the National Integrated Ballistics Information Network experts linked the weapon to the shell casings found at the scene of Miya's murder. This crucial piece of evidence directly connected the occupants of the car to the fatal shooting.

The investigation led to the arrests of two Providence men, Shawn Mann and Isaiah Pinkerton. In August 2022, a grand jury indicted both men on multiple charges, including murder, conspiracy, and firearms offenses. Their trials revealed that they had participated in the drive-by shooting that killed Miya Brophy-Baern. Both men were subsequently found guilty on all counts. Isaiah Pinkerton was sentenced to double life in prison plus 50 years. Following his conviction, Shawn Mann also received a sentence of double life in prison plus 60 years, ensuring that both individuals responsible for the random and tragic death of Miya Brophy-Baern would be held accountable for their actions.