In a quiet neighborhood in the Conway area, the evening of May 12, 2024, took a tragic turn, ending the life of 64-year-old Michael Smith. A male resident of Loris, in Horry County, he died in his home from a gunshot wound to the torso. The events of that night unfolded in a manner that left neighbors in disbelief, as what began as a verbal dispute escalated to a fatal conclusion.
Just hours before the incident, Michael and his wife, 63-year-old Laura Ann Smith, were seen by neighbors
enjoying a seemingly normal evening, riding their golf cart with their dog. However, behind closed doors, a heated argument over finances was brewing. It was this disagreement that authorities say led to the deadly shooting.
Following the altercation, Laura Smith herself placed a 911 call at approximately 9 p.m., informing the dispatcher that she had shot someone and would be waiting for law enforcement outside their Long Meadow Drive residence. When Horry County Police arrived, they found her cooperative and took her into custody.
Inside the home, officers discovered Michael Smith in the bedroom, having sustained a gunshot wound to the upper right chest. A revolver was found lying near his body. Despite the immediate response from emergency services, Michael Smith succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
Laura Ann Smith was arrested and has been charged with murder. She was subsequently booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center, where she is being held without bail as the investigation by the Horry County Police Department continues.
