Manuel “Manny” Laureanno was a builder, a pilot, and a man of many passions who especially cherished time with his grandson. Born in Fall River, Massachusetts, the 69-year-old White/Caucasian male served in the U.S. Air Force before embarking on a successful career in construction and real estate development. He flew his own twin-engine plane, restored antique cars, and enjoyed scuba diving, fishing, and riding his motorcycle. His life, however, came to a violent and unexpected end in his Portsmouth, Rhode Island, apartment on the evening of Monday, May 16, 2016.
At approximately 7:17 p.m., Laureanno’s wife, Lisa Almeida-Laureanno, placed a 911 call stating that she had shot her husband. When police and emergency responders arrived at their residence on East Main Road, they found Laureanno deceased from at least one gunshot wound to his torso. There was no sign of a physical struggle before the shooting.
Police Chief Thomas Lee later described the incident as a "tragic case of domestic violence," noting the lethal combination of a history of domestic issues, alcohol, and the accessibility of firearms.
Lisa Almeida-Laureanno, then 57, was arrested at the scene and charged with domestic murder. During a search of the apartment, detectives seized a revolver believed to be the weapon used, along with several other firearms. The investigation revealed that police had responded to the same address in 2009 for a domestic incident that resulted in Laureanno's arrest for simple assault against his then-girlfriend, Lisa. That charge was later dismissed, and the couple married in 2013.
In August 2016, a grand jury indicted Almeida-Laureanno on charges of murder and discharging a firearm during a violent crime. She pleaded not guilty the following month and was held without bail as the case proceeded through the court system.
Two years later, in August 2018, the case reached its conclusion. Lisa Almeida, who had reverted to her maiden name, accepted a plea deal with prosecutors. She pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge of manslaughter. During the sentencing hearing, a letter from Laureanno’s daughter, Lisa Davis, was read to the court, describing the void her father’s death left in her life and that of her son, who had lost his "coach, his mentor, his biggest fan." Almeida also read a letter, asking for the family’s forgiveness and stating she was "truly, truly very remorseful."
The judge sentenced Almeida to 30 years, with 20 years to serve in prison followed by 10 years of probation. He noted that the tragedy was a "waste of life" that appeared to have followed a disagreement, when Almeida pulled a gun from under a couch cushion and fired twice, with the second shot proving fatal. The case was officially closed with her sentencing in August 2018.
