Jury finds Central Falls man guilty of 2020 murder
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced today that a Central Falls man has been found guilty in Providence County Superior Court for the murder of 22-year-old Joel Rosario in 2020.
On March 12, 2025, following the conclusion of a 17-day jury trial before Superior Court Justice Maureen B. Keough, a jury found Jairo Esdel Galva (age 26) guilty of one count of second-degree murder, one count of discharging a firearm when committing a crime of violence resulting in death, one count of committing a drive-by shooting, and one count of carrying a firearm without a license.
The defendant is currently being held without bail at the Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) pending a sentencing hearing scheduled for April 21, 2025.
“This case is another tragic example of a petty argument that turned deadly because the defendant chose to settle a score with a gun,” said Attorney General Neronha. “Later this month, my Office will release our annual gun crime report, and it will show that our communities continue to be inundated with guns. Unfortunately, more guns in the hands of criminals means more gun violence and gun deaths, such as this one. Our collective enforcement of commonsense gun laws is so important because it will save other families from enduring such tragic outcomes. I hope this verdict provides some measure of peace for Joel’s family and friends. I thank the jury for getting this one right and thanks to the Pawtucket Police Department for their hard work on this case.”
During the trial, the State proved beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant shot and killed the Joel Rosario on Lonsdale Avenue in Pawtucket.
On October 31, 2020, Pawtucket Police responded to a call for shots fired on Lonsdale Avenue in Pawtucket. Upon arrival, officers learned that Joel Rosario had been shot in the chest and was transported to Miriam Hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Police interviewed several witnesses who noted that Joel and the defendant had a contentious history. According to their testimony, someone driving a Jeep Cherokee was following a Toyota Corolla, in which Joel was the front seat passenger. When the Corolla stopped at a traffic light on Lonsdale Avenue, Joel exited the vehicle and began arguing with the driver of the Jeep Cherokee (the defendant). During the argument, the defendant fired a single shot through the open passenger window of his vehicle, striking the victim in the chest, before quickly fleeing the scene in his vehicle.
Several witnesses positively identified the defendant as both the shooter and the operator of the Jeep Cherokee. Further investigation revealed that the defendant did not have a license to possess a firearm.
Pawtucket Police arrested the defendant on November 4, 2020.
“I want to thank the men and women of the Pawtucket Police Department and the Attorney General’s Office for their work in bringing this defendant to justice,” said Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves. “Senseless violence gravely impacts our community, and those who perpetrate these acts must continue to be held accountable for their actions.”
Assistant Attorney General John Perrotta and Special Assistant Attorney General Gregory Moore of the Attorney General’s Office and Detective Andrew Torres of the Pawtucket Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.
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