Concord Teen's Unsolved 2023 Homicide in Providence Remains Open Case

Isiah Rosario, 15, was shot and killed in Providence, RI weeks after running away from his new home in Concord, NH.

Apr. 14, 2026 at 7:41pm

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An extreme close-up of a single spent shell casing on a dark, gritty surface, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash, conceptually illustrating the investigation into a homicide.The unsolved homicide of a Concord teen in Providence exposes the ongoing challenges in closing such cases, even as the city sees a decline in murders.Concord Today

Weeks after running away from his new home in Concord, New Hampshire to his old one in Providence, Rhode Island, 15-year-old Isiah Rosario was gunned down in the early morning hours of April 15, 2023. Police responded to reports of gunshots and found Rosario suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was rushed to the hospital but pronounced dead. The case remains unsolved, one of only a few open homicide cases in Providence, according to the police chief.

Why it matters

Rosario's death has left his family and community shattered, with his mother hoping to provide her sons a better life away from the inner-city influences of Providence. The unsolved case highlights the challenges police face in closing homicide investigations, even as Providence has seen a decline in murders in recent years. Rosario's story also underscores the broader issue of youth violence and the need for comprehensive support systems to help at-risk teens.

The details

Police responded to reports of gunshots around 2:30 a.m. on March Street in the Chad Brown housing development in Providence. They found Rosario suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest and rushed him to Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Witnesses reported hearing at least five gunshots and seeing chaos in the neighborhood. Rosario had been missing for about two weeks before his death and was officially reported as a runaway. Originally from Rhode Island, Rosario and his family had moved to Concord, New Hampshire at the end of the 2021-2022 school year to seek a better life.

  • Rosario was shot and killed around 2:30 a.m. on April 15, 2023.
  • Rosario had been missing for about two weeks before his death and was officially reported as a runaway.

The players

Isiah Rosario

A 15-year-old who was shot and killed in Providence, Rhode Island weeks after running away from his new home in Concord, New Hampshire.

Col. Oscar Perez Jr.

The Providence Police Chief who called Rosario's death 'devastating' and said the department remains committed to solving the case, one of only a few open homicide investigations in the city.

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What they’re saying

“My sister helped teach me how to be a mother and a believer in God and defined what family first means. Our family is shattered by this and my sister and Isiah's siblings need to be surrounded by family and love.”

— Rosario's mother

“We are committed to every case, when it comes to homicides, in the city of Providence. No homicide case is ever, ever forgotten about, whether it happened recently or decades ago. We remain committed to seeking justice for victims and their families.”

— Col. Oscar Perez Jr., Providence Police Chief

What’s next

The Providence Police Department's homicide investigators continue to work the case, reinterviewing witnesses, reviewing evidence, and searching for leads that could help solve Isiah Rosario's murder.

The takeaway

Isiah Rosario's unsolved homicide in Providence highlights the ongoing challenges police face in closing such cases, even as the city has seen a decline in murders in recent years. His tragic story underscores the need for comprehensive support systems to help at-risk youth and prevent further violence in the community.