In the winter of 2020, the life of a vibrant and creative 30-year-old Black/African American woman, Alicia Nicole 'LeLe' Laws, was tragically cut short in Greenville, South Carolina. Born on June 1, 1990, in Lebanon, Virginia, Laws had moved to Greenville eleven years prior to her death, having spent most of her life in Abingdon, Virginia. She was remembered by those who knew her for her passion for the arts, particularly singing, dancing, and acting, having graced the stage in multiple plays
at the Barter Theatre in Abingdon.
On the evening of December 27, 2020, an altercation at the Economy Inn on Augusta Road in Greenville escalated to a fatal conclusion. During the dispute, Laws sustained a gunshot wound to her torso. The shooting proved to be fatal, and her untimely death sent ripples of grief and shock through her family, friends, and the wider community. The incident cast a harsh light on the Economy Inn, which had been the scene of previous violent events, prompting concerns about public safety.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Greenville community and local activists called for justice for Alicia Laws. The Economy Inn was ultimately shut down by county officials in the wake of her death. Despite the ongoing investigation by law enforcement and impassioned pleas from her family for anyone with information to come forward, Alicia's murder remains unsolved. To date, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with her death, leaving a painful void for those who continue to mourn her loss and hope for a resolution to the case.
