Man claims self-defense in Providence landlord homicide

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A man faces firearm charges in connection to the fatal shooting of a Providence landlord.

Police responded around 2:30 p.m. Monday to reports of shots fired at a home on Prudence Avenue. Jennie Jensen, who owns the property, was found lying in the hallway.

Providence Maj. David Lapatin said Jensen was attempting to evict Rufus Watson. Jensen was renting the apartment to Watson’s cousin who no longer lives there.

Jensen, accompanied by two others, kicked down the apartment door.

Watson was allegedly waiting inside with an AR-15 style rifle. Lapatin said police believe Jensen and her companions were also carrying weapons.

Watson said he fired in self-defense. He is now charged with possession of a firearm after being convicted of a crime of violence, two counts of possession of a large-capacity magazine, possession of a ghost gun, and possession of a barrel of less than 16 inches.

Watch: Major Lapatin announces the charges. (Story continues below.)

Police said the AR-15 style rifle is the only firearm found on scene. According to Lapatin, no one else was injured in the shooting and the two who accompanied Jensen fled the scene. Watson was the only person to fire a weapon.

“What’s already done is done, but we have to investigate it and get to the absolute truth and the facts of what happened,” Lapatin said.

No murder charges have been filed. Lapatin said the issue is likely to be brought before a grand jury where more charges could be applied.

Lapatin said Watson has a criminal record. He is being held on $100,000 bail.