POLICE: Father’s argument led to death of 7-year-old daughter

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Nelson Pires was arraigned in district court Thursday morning on two counts of child endangerment.

Pires was the father of Ny’eil Pires, who was killed in a shooting on Florence Street in August.

Investigators have released new information on her death and the role her father allegedly played.

During the arraignment officers explained the conflict started well before any bullets were fired.

“The defendant, Nelson Pires, on Aug. 29, 2024, in the early evening hours, encountered another individual, Shaheem Nathanial, at a 7-11 store in the city of Providence,” said the prosecuting attorney. “That there was some verbal exchange that occurred in that store, and we know Mr. Pires was accompanied by his two young children.”

Pires was arrested on Sept. 18.

Chief Oscar Perez said Pires’ actions went beyond poor judgment, and officers in court claimed he actively put his children in harm’s way.

“The allegation is that Mr. Pires followed that vehicle in his own vehicle and, on at least two occasions, bumped into the bumper of the vehicle where Mr. Nathaniel was a passenger,” said Perez.

Perez said that Pires followed Nathaniel onto Florence Street, and attempted to drive into two passengers from the other vehicle.

Officers said Pires attempted to drive up on the grass towards Shameem Nathaniel and Ahmani Cabrera, who are currently facing murder charges in Ny’iel’s death.

“He then began to back up, and as he backed up, the two individuals, Mr. Nathaniel and Mr. Cabrera, opened fire and one of those shots unfortunately struck the defendant’s young daughter and eventually led to her death,” said the prosecuting attorney. “And also in the car at that time, judge, the grounds for the second count, was the defendant’s even younger son.”

Since these are felony charges, no plea can be entered in district, and Pires is being held on a $50,000 bond due to his “extensive criminal history.”

He is expected to be arraigned in superior court later on Thursday and will return to court for his probation violation Sept. 26.

Pires’ next hearing on the child endangerment charges will be on Jan. 2, 2025.