West Park Place Attackers Sought Drugs, Got Gunfight

Two men invaded 65/67 West Park Place at 2:14 a.m. to steal drugs and money, instead finding themselves in a fight that left two people seriously injured from multiple gunshots.

One of the men, whom Woonsocket Police Capt. Edward Lee declined to identify, was undergoing surgery at the time of a 1 p.m. press conference for life-threatening injuries. He and a person inside the building at the time of the fight are being treated at Rhode Island Hospital for multiple gunshot wounds. Police say four firearms were used during the fight.

The tenant, Keinan J. McKenna, 21, of 67 West Park Place, suffered a minor injury when he was struck in the head with a shotgun during the fight. He was treated at Landmark Medical Center.

Lee said as the department received calls reporting the shooting, shots continued to be fired for some time. He did not comment on the other weapons involved, or who wielded them. 

Officers responded to the address, setting up a perimeter around it. Officer Matthew Labine was near the rear of the building and spotted two men, later identified as Tyronne A. Seams, 27, of 163 Farm St., and David Bunnell, 21, of 26 Alpine Row, Franklin, MA, coming out of the basement, one of them with gunshot wounds. When they saw the officers surrounding the building, they retreated back inside. Labine noticed Bunnell was carrying a sawed-off shotgun by his side. The officer followed the men, ordering them, at gunpoint, to show their hands. They did, and Labine arrested them.

"He is a hero," Police Chief Thomas Carey said during the conference of Labine's actions, lauding the rest of the force as well. "He's a hero. They all are."
 
Carey was quick to point out the good fortune of the other people in the neighborhood, who could've been injured during the fight, since the men involved aren't trained to consider their field of fire. Lee noted the incident was an unfortunate result of the presence of drug dealers in the city, and underlined the urgency of their daily work to remove drug traffickers.
 
Police are charging Seams with assault with a dangerous weapon in a dwelling house, and possession of cocaine; Bunnell with assault with a dangerous weapon in a dwelling house; McKenna with narcotic violations.

Carey urged anyone with information on the home invasion or the men involved to contact the department's anonymous tip line, 401-769-4444, to help them as they continue to investigate.