WARWICK, RI — Warwick Police continued their investigation into the man whose suspected firearm possession spurred a CCRI lockdown Tuesday, identifying Nathan Randall, 41, arresting him on an illegal firearms possession charge and four outstanding warrants.
Warwick Police located Randall and took him into custody without incident. Warwick Police charged Randall with Mental Incompetents and Drug Addicts Prohibited from Possession of Firearms. He was arraigned Thursday, April 9 in Third Division District Court and is being held pending a future court date, May 11, for a court screening.
According to police, following the incident at CCRI on April 7, detectives conducted an in-depth investigation, gathering evidence and following up on leads to identify the individual involved. “The case was
thoroughly reviewed to ensure appropriate charges were filed,” police noted in their statement about the arrest. Previously, the suspected weapon had been reported as an Airsoft gun. While powered by compressed air and thus not technically a firearm, RI law regulates them in the same category, according to R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-47-2:
““Firearm” includes any machine gun, pistol, rifle, air rifle, air pistol, “blank gun,” “BB gun,” or other instrument from which steel or metal projectiles are propelled, or that may readily be converted to expel a projectile, except crossbows, recurve, compound, or longbows, and except instruments propelling projectiles that are designed or normally used for a primary purpose other than as a weapon. The frame or receiver of the weapon shall be construed as a firearm under the provisions of this section.”
CCRI Lockdown suspect’s backpack found Tuesday
Warwick Police began their search of the area after receiving a report about a possible man with what appeared to be the butt of a gun sticking out of a backpack, just before 9 a.m., entering the wooded area off Commonwealth Avenue (backside of CCRI). The college issued a lockdown alert, and nearby, Toll Gate High and Winman Middle Schools were also observing restricted movment/lockdown precautions. By 12:30 p.m., the lockdown had been lifted there, and it was also lifted for CCRI by 1:48 p.m., when Warwick Police announced they had finished their search and ended the lockdown.
Police found the reported backpack, with the suspected firearm inside, and continued their search for the owner, finding Randall and then charging him Thursday.
Author: Rob Borkowski
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
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