A Tiverton man will serve life behind bars for shooting a man to death following an argument in a Newport social club two years ago.

At a hearing Monday before Superior Court Justice Stephen P. Nugent, Shamik Steele, 33, of Tiverton, pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Yordi Arevalo, one count of conspiracy to commit murder, and one count of felony assault. Judge Nugent sentenced him 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.

Newport police responded to Friendly Sons of Newport social club on Valentine's Day 2022 for a report of a shooting. According to witnesses, Steele and two friends had been drinking at the bar and left after getting into an argument with Arevalo and several others. Though they left, they returned soon after and witnesses said Steele shot several rounds, striking Arevalo four times before fleeing on foot. Another person was also shot, according to reports.

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