Crime & Safety
Woonsocket Man Sentenced to Life for Pawn Shop Shooting
Andrew McLean pleaded guilty, apologizing in court for shooting pawn shop owner Justin Kempe in the head during an October robbery.
WOONSOCKET, RI—A 23-year-old Woonsocket man will spend the rest of his life in prison for shooting a Providence pawn shop owner in the head during a robbery in October.
Andrew McLean changed his plea to guilty in Providence County Superior Court on Monday and was sentenced by Judge Robert D. Krause to life in prison plus a consecutive 20 year term, suspended and non-paroleable.
McLean admitted in court that he and two co-defendants, Reginald Isom and Leroy Dorsey, robbed the Capitol Gold Pawn Shop on Oct. 23.
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McLean was carrying a .9 mm pistol when he walked into the shop and the door locked behind them. The owner, Justin Kempe, took out .40 caliber gun and confronted them.
"In the confusion, McLean dropped his firearm. During a struggle, the owner was able to get off two rounds, striking McLean and Dorsey. Soon after, the defendants brought the owner to the floor. McLean grabbed the firearm he dropped earlier and shot the owner in the head," said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin in a news release.
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McLean and his co-conspirators stole electronics, Kempe's gun and got the front door open to flee.
A nearby postal worker passed Dorsey as he fled and saw him toss the gun. Moments later, the postal worker walked by the pawn shop and saw the owner lying on the floor bleeding from the gunshot wound.
A nearby car was hailed and 911 was called and it wasn't long before police tracked Dorsey down, discovering him in the basement of a house he broke into.
McLean was arrested a few hours later.
Dorsey's case is pending and Isom remains at large, Kilmartin said.
Kempe survived the shooting but has endured months of hospitalization and now sufferers from partial paralysis.
Kempe said that despite is ongoing recovery, he feels some closure knowing that McLean has been served with justice.
"Today justice was served," Kempe told ABC6. "This is what the United States of America stands for. We have a justice system."
McLean apologized in court and said "If I could take it back I would. I really didn't mean it."
Kempe said he would not accept the apology.
Photo courtesy: ABC6
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