Cranston Police witness holiday murder after brawl and stabbing of 15-year-old

The holiday ended tragically following a large brawl in Cranston which resulted in a teenager with a stab wound and another man run over and killed.

Shortly after midnight July Fourth, around 12:39 a.m., July 5, Cranston Police received an emergency call regarding a large disturbance in the area of Oak and Trainor streets.

Officers arrived to find a 15-year-old boy stabbed in the back, bleeding profusely, according to a Cranston Police press release.

Police identified “the suspect who stabbed the 15-year-old” as Destiny Torres, 23, of Orford St., North Providence. According to police, Destiny Torres “then got into a grey Honda Accord being operated by” a man police identified as Edwin Torres,” 24, of Ivy Ave., Cranston.

“At the same time, as additional officers were arriving on scene, the Honda Accord being operated by (Torres) was involved in a disturbance with an Isaac Vasquez,” according to Cranston Police. “Officers witnessed Torres intentionally strike Isaac Vasquez with his vehicle in which Vasquez succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead.”

The Cranston Police Detective Unit, BCI and Traffic units are working with the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office on this ongoing investigation.

Police released a statement of sympathy in the press release: “Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr. Vasquez during this profoundly difficult time. We extend our heartfelt sympathies for their loss.”

Both Destiny Torres and Edwin Torres were taken into custody.

Destiny Torres was charged with one count of felony assault with a dangerous weapon, a knife, for the alleged stabbing of the 15-year-old boy. The stabbing victim was transported to RI Hospital and is in stable condition at this time, according to Cranston Police.

Edwin Torres was charged with one count of murder in the death of 21-year-old Isaac Vasquez of Oak St., Cranston.

“We have a high number of calls every year at this time of year due to large gatherings and parties,” Cranston Police Maj. Todd Patalano said Monday morning. “We always know we are going to be busy so we monitor personnel to ensure we are prepared. July and August are very busy with this type of activity historically.”

Both defendants remain in custody, according to Attorney General’s Office Spokesman Timothy Rondeau.

Destiny Torres and Edwin Torres were both arraigned by District Court Judge Debra Saunders on Friday, July 5.

Edwin Torres was arraigned on one count of murder.

“The Court ordered the defendant held without bail and granted the defendant’s motion to move the bail hearing to Superior Court,” according to Rondeau. “The matter is now scheduled for a status conference before the Providence County Superior Court on July 10.”

Destiny Torres was arraigned on one count of assault with a dangerous weapon.

“The Court set bail at $15,000 with surety and ordered the defendant not to have any contact with the victim,” according to Rondeau. “The case is now scheduled for a status conference in Third Division District Court on July 11 … The State also presented Destiny Torres as an alleged Superior Court bail violator … The Court ordered her held without bail and scheduled a bail violation hearing for July 18.”

According to court records, Destiny Torres was charged with Possession of a Schedule I to V Controlled Substance (10 Grams or Less) in March 2023 by North Providence Police. She was free, released on “Personal Recognizance $10,000,” for that offense, at the time of last week’s stabbing and subsequent vehicular homicide.

Since both defendants “were charged with felonies, no pleas were entered before the District Court,” according to Rondeau, who added “that’s standard procedure for felonies since the District Court doesn’t have jurisdiction over felonies.”