Alberto Rivera has been found guilty of assault with a firearm with the intent to murder, as announced by Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin. 

He was also found guilty of burglary, assault with a dangerous weapon, discharging a firearm while committing a crime of violence, use of a firearm while committing a crime of violence, possession of a firearm after having previously been convicted of a crime of violence, and carrying a firearm without a license.

The incident took place on December 4 of 2016, when Rivera went to the Lowell Avenue apartment in Providence of his ex-wife, Brenda Villanueva, and her boyfriend, Juan Croussette.  Also in the apartment at the time were Rivera and Villanueva’s two daughters, eight and seven years old.

According to police reports, Rivera shattered the sliding glass door in the living room, where the two girls were sleeping.  Croussette got up from his bed down the hall to get the girls, and when he entered the living room River shot him in the neck.  Croussette testified during the trial that he fell to the floor and felt like he was drowning on his own blood.

Then, the reports say, Rivera pointed the gun at Villanueva and said, “I told you.” The 8-year old then pleaded with her father to not shoot her mother, and Rivera lowered his gun and fled the scene. 

When officers arrived, Croussette was covered in blood trying to walk out to the street, where he collapsed and was brought to Rhode Island Hospital by an ambulance.

Villanueva, who says she received a phone call from Rivera saying: “If you tell anyone it was me, I will blow your brains out.”

She identified Rivera as the shooter and he was arrested several days later in Brockton, Mass.

Providence detectives Brian Dyer and Matthew Greely led the investigation of the crime and Assistant Attorney General James Baum and Special Assistant Attorney General Edward Mullaney prosecuted the case on behalf of the Attorney General’s office.