In the quiet town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, the life of Manuel "Manny" Laureanno, a 69-year-old White/Caucasian male, came to an unexpected and tragic end on the evening of Monday, May 16, 2016. His death, which occurred at his residence, was not due to natural causes but was the result of a fatal shooting. The incident that unfolded was described by authorities as a "tragic case of domestic violence," shattering the peace of the seaside community.
The circumstances leading to
Laureanno's death began to surface when his wife, Lisa Almeida-Laureanno, placed a 911 call at approximately 7:17 p.m. In that call, she informed the dispatcher that she had shot her husband. Police and emergency responders arrived at their apartment on East Main Road to find Laureanno deceased, with at least one gunshot wound to his torso. Investigators located several firearms within the home, but the weapon believed to have been used was a snub-nosed revolver. Following the initial investigation, Lisa Almeida-Laureanno was taken into custody and subsequently faced a charge of domestic murder.
Police Chief Thomas Lee remarked on the lethal combination of a history of domestic violence, alcohol, and the accessibility of firearms as contributing factors in this tragedy. Records indicated that police had responded to a prior incident at the same address in 2009, which resulted in Laureanno's arrest for simple assault against his wife. The investigation into the homicide was conducted by the Portsmouth police in conjunction with the state Attorney General's office and the state Medical Examiner.
Manuel Laureanno was born in Fall River, Massachusetts, on January 16, 1947. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1964 to 1968, where he began his career in the construction industry. His career progressed, and by 1976, he was the president of the Fall River Home Builders Association before transitioning into real estate development. Beyond his professional life, Laureanno was a man of many passions. He was a licensed pilot who owned his own twin-engine plane and had a fondness for restoring antique cars. His interests were varied and included scuba diving, fishing, hunting, skiing, camping, and riding his motorcycle. He was a father and a grandfather who especially cherished the time he spent with his grandson.
