PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) – A 20-year-old man was shot dead as he was attending a house party with a group of friends who had skipped school, the 15th homicide so far this year in Providence.

Lonny Perez was sitting on a sofa at the crowded party in an apartment on River Avenue, in the city’s Elmhurst section, when someone fired a gun on Wednesday. His younger brother found him bleeding from his head. He and others carried him out to the street.

“I ran downstairs screaming, Who shot my brother? Who shot my brother?”‘ Elie Perez, the younger brother, told The Providence Journal.

The gunman turned and started to raise his gun toward 16-year-old Elie Perez, who ran back upstairs. Elie Perez said he didn’t recognize the shooter and was adamant that his brother didn’t have any enemies.

Police questioned two individuals yesterday. But detectives did not comment on possible suspects, or why the shooting occurred.

The number of homicides this year is below last year, when 20 people were murdered. Police and city leaders said creating neighborhood precinct stations and an emphasis on community policing have helped cause the drop.

But the murder rate has risen precipitously since July. Two to three people have been slain each month since then.

Seven, including Perez, were men in their 20s who died in shootings.

Providence Chief Dean Esserman rushed to the crime scene wearing dress uniforms for a later promotional ceremony for lieutenants and sergeants. The chief acknowledged Perez’s death in his speech at the promotions.