On a late summer evening in Providence, Rhode Island, the life of a seven-year-old Black girl named Ny'Eil Sophia Kelley Pires was tragically cut short. On August 29, 2024, Ny'Eil was seated in a car with her father, Nelson Pires, and her younger brother on Florence Street. The chain of events that led to the fatal shooting began with a dispute at a nearby 7-Eleven involving her father and two other men.
Following the argument, the conflict escalated as the vehicles left the convenience
store. Nelson Pires allegedly followed and bumped into the car carrying the two men, Ahmari Cabrera, 19, and Shaheem Nathaniel, 26. When both cars stopped on Florence Street, Cabrera and Nathaniel are accused of getting out of their vehicle and opening fire. During the gunfire, Ny'Eil, who was in the backseat of her father's car, was struck. She fought for her life for several days at Hasbro Children's Hospital but ultimately succumbed to her injuries on September 2, 2024.
In the wake of the shooting, Providence Police swiftly identified and arrested two suspects. On August 30, Ahmari Cabrera and Shaheem Nathaniel were taken into custody. Initially facing felony assault and firearm charges, the charges were upgraded to murder after Ny'Eil's death. Both men have since been indicted on additional counts, including first-degree murder, and have pleaded not guilty.
The investigation also led to legal consequences for Ny'Eil's father. Nelson Pires, 27, was arrested and charged with two felony counts of child endangerment and driving with a suspended license. Authorities stated that his actions leading up to the shooting demonstrated a disregard for the safety of his children. It was revealed that Pires has a lengthy criminal history, including numerous domestic violence charges.
