U.S. Army Veteran Chionuma Was a Rhode Island Rock Star. He Was Murdered.
GoLocalProv News Team
U.S. Army Veteran Chionuma Was a Rhode Island Rock Star. He Was Murdered.
He was a U.S. Army veteran. As of a week ago, he served as a Senior Consultant & Operations Manager for the Rhode Island Department of Human Services.
He is dead.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTLast Friday, Chionuma was shot in Providence, and after a few days of struggling in the hospital, he died from his injuries. He reportedly tried to break up a dispute, and one of the individuals pulled a gun and shot him.
Police took 30-year-old Nikkolas Adams into custody this week for the shooting of Chionuma.
Adams was arraigned Monday on charges of felony assault, simple assault, firing in a compact area, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and 13 counts of possessing a large-capacity feeding device. His bail was set at $500,000 with surety, and he was ordered to surrender his passport and all firearms.
He is due back in court in October.
“My leadership roles include being an Infantry Team Leader, Company Operations NCO Infantry Squad Leader, and most recently the Assistant Operations Officer (Logistical Plans Officer). These roles have molded me into the diverse and versatile Soldier that can be an asset in the civilian sector,” he wrote in his bio.
Now, friends in Rhode Island are crushed by his loss.
"He was one of the best people I knew," said Providence resident Emily Gaudreau.
Gaudreau said she met Chionuma through a mutual friend and they became "fast friends" -- so much so, he was a groomsman in her wedding party this past year.
"He was just the funniest. He had a gigantic smile and would light up a room," said Gaudreau.
"Sam was deeply proud of his military service," she said. "If you were lucky enough to be one of his friends -- he was in your corner."
He won commendations for his 13 years of service in the United States Army.
Chionuma served in Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq.
Before the Army, he earned a degree in economics and political science and played football at the University of Rochester.
He worked for a healthcare consulting business in Rhode Island and then, in April, was recruited to work for the State of Rhode Island in the Department of Human Services.
He had a life of accomplishments and service.
For Providence and other mid-sized cities, Chionuma is the type of young man that you hope moves to your city and builds his career.
He survived the dangers and threats of three tours in battle across the globe.
He just could not survive gun violence in Providence.