Seven Providence College Students Overdose on Suspected Fentanyl, Three Suspects Nabbed in Dramatic Bust

Providence, R.I. – December 8, 2025  Seven students were rushed to area hospitals after suffering apparent drug overdoses at an off-campus house party, authorities confirmed Sunday. The incident, which unfolded late Friday on Liege Street, has led to the swift arrest of three individuals accused of supplying the deadly narcotics, marking a stark reminder of the opioid crisis infiltrating even the nation's college campuses.

Emergency responders were initially dispatched to 44 Liege Street around midnight on December 5, expecting to handle what they believed was a routine double overdose call. Instead, they encountered a scene of pandemonium: four young adults sprawled unconscious on the front lawn, with three more discovered inside the residence, all exhibiting signs of severe opioid intoxication. Firefighters and paramedics administered Narcan – the life-saving overdose reversal agent – to all seven victims on site, stabilizing them before transporting them to nearby hospitals. By Saturday morning, police reported that the students were conscious and alert, with no life-threatening injuries expected.

"The rapid response of our first responders undoubtedly saved lives," said Providence Police Colonel Oscar Perez in a statement released Sunday. "This was a coordinated nightmare turned around by quick thinking and community vigilance."The victims, all confirmed as Providence College undergraduates by university officials, had been attending what was described as a typical off-campus gathering among friends. Providence College, a private Catholic institution nestled in the Elmhurst neighborhood, issued a somber statement Saturday afternoon via Associate Vice President Steve Maurano. "We want to thank the City of Providence first responders on scene, as well as college public safety officials, who administered lifesaving care to our students," Maurano said. "We are gathering information at this time and will be conducting a thorough investigation in the days ahead." The school emphasized its commitment to student safety but declined to release further details, citing privacy concerns.What began as a night of revelry quickly spiraled into tragedy, allegedly fueled by fentanyl-laced drugs. Providence Police's Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau wasted no time in tracing the source. Detectives identified a suspect believed to have delivered the substances to one of the students earlier in the evening, leading to a court-authorized search warrant for a second-floor apartment at 26 Hawkins Street – just blocks from the college.

The raid, executed Saturday, uncovered a chilling cache: approximately 20 grams of fentanyl powder, $1,700 in suspected drug proceeds, three handguns, and two assault-style rifles. Among the seized items were what authorities described as "ghost guns" – untraceable firearms potentially produced via 3D printing – highlighting the growing menace of unregulated weaponry in urban drug rings.

Three occupants of the apartment were taken into custody without incident. Angel Williams, 33, and Patrick Patterson, 32, face a litany of heavy charges, including possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl, possession of multiple firearms after prior violent crime convictions, and conspiracy. Kimsheree Simoneau, also 33, was charged specifically with possession or control of a ghost gun or undetectable firearm. Williams, notably, was apprehended in Cranston by local police as he stepped out of an Amazon delivery truck, still clad in his work vest – a jarring juxtaposition of everyday employment and alleged criminality.

"This investigation reflects the department's continued commitment to combating the deadly flow of fentanyl and illegal firearms into our community," Col. Perez added. "The coordinated efforts of our Narcotics and Organized Crime Bureau ensured that dangerous weapons and narcotics were removed from the streets of Providence."The arrests have sent ripples through the Providence College community, where administrators are now grappling with how to support affected students and prevent future incidents. Counseling services have been ramped up on campus, and public safety briefings on substance awareness are slated for the coming week. Local advocacy groups, including those focused on opioid prevention, praised the police response but called for broader education efforts targeting young adults.

17GEN4.com