"Chill Will" Found Guilty for Delivery Driver Shooting

SMITHFIELD, RI—A 38-year-old Smithfield man has been found guilty of several weapons charges and felony assault for opening fire on a food delivery driver who confronted him after a road rage incident on the Providence College campus last November.

Willie Washington, also known as “Chill Will,” of Smithfield, was found guilty by a jury after six hours of deliberation following a six-day trial presided over by Superior Court Justice Robert D. Krause.

During the trial, prosecutors said that Washington was a passenger in a Volvo SUV that pulled up behind a parked Hyundai on Huxley Avenue at around 1 a.m. on Nov. 15 of 2014.

The Hyundai belonged to Rudy Basquez, who was making a food delivery to a nearby residence on the campus.

The driver of the Volvo beeped indicating that the Hyundai should move. Basquez confronted the operator of the SUV, which is when Washington got out and opened fire.

Basquez was struck in the arm with a bullet and the Volvo sped away.

Witnesses gave police a good description of the Volvo, which led to Providence police running the plates. That led them to Washington as a suspect.

Washington was later found in a different car pulled over on Admiral Street. Once stopped, Washington gave chase but was captured by officers in a nearby driveway.

He was charged with carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence, possession of a firearm after previously being convicted of a crime of violence and felony assault.

Providence Police Detective Alicia Hersperger led the investigation. Special Assistant Attorneys General Peter Roklan and Joseph McBurney prosecuted the case on behalf of the Office of Attorney General.

Washington will be sentenced at a later date.

Court records show Washington has a lengthy criminal history including a 1999 arrest for shooting three people outside Fidas Restaurant. He has also served several stints in prison.