Tiverton man sentenced to prison for walking into Newport bar, fatally shooting 25-year-old man

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Attorney General Peter Neronha announced today that a Tiverton man has been sentenced in Newport County Superior Court to serve life in prison for the 2022 murder of 25-year-old Yordi Arevalo. 

At a hearing on Monday before Superior Court Justice Stephen P. Nugent, 33-year-old Shamik Steele pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder, one count of conspiracy to commit murder, and one count of felony assault. Judge Nugent sentenced the defendant to serve life plus five years at the ACI. 

“Those who commit crimes of violence are legally barred from possessing guns, and this case demonstrates why,” said Attorney General Neronha. “This defendant was previously convicted of a violent crime and could not legally own or operate a firearm; the likelihood of recidivism is too high. Our collective enforcement of these commonsense gun laws is so important because it will save other families from such tragic outcomes as this one. I hope this sentence provides some measure of closure for Yordi’s family, and thanks to the Newport Police Department for their great work on this case.”

Had the case proceeded to the trial, the State was prepared to prove that Steele shot and killed the victim inside a Newport bar. 

On February 14, 2022, Newport Police responded to Friendly Sons of Newport for a report of a shooting. According to witness testimony, Steele and two friends were drinking at the bar before they left, returning a short time later. When they returned, Steele walked into the building and shot several rounds, striking the victim four times before fleeing the establishment on foot.

Detectives reviewed surveillance footage from inside the bar and positively identified the defendant as the shooter, having known Steele’s appearance from prior police interactions. Moreover, a second witness described the shooter as having a neck tattoo depicting the face of Jesus Christ, and the defendant has a tattoo on his neck that matches that description.

“I want to thank the men and women of the Newport Police Department and the Attorney General’s Office for their work in bringing this defendant to justice,” said Newport Police Chief Ryan Duffy. “When firearms are in the hands of those ready and willing to use them for violence, tragedies like this occur. We must continue to be vigilant in our efforts to remove firearms from our streets for the safety of our community.”

Assistant Attorney General Eric Batista and Detective Stephen Carrig of the Newport Police Department led the investigation and prosecution of the case.