Lola Ivett Savage, a 59-year-old Black woman, tragically lost her life on August 29, 2019, in Boynton Beach, Florida. Born on March 19, 1960, in St. Thomas, Jamaica, Lola was a dedicated Certified Nurse Assistant who had migrated to Florida and worked with several agencies, including Morse Life Health Services. She was known for her caring and loyal nature, and she cherished spending time with her family, especially her six children and eight grandchildren.
The circumstances surrounding Lola's death were deeply distressing. On the afternoon of August 29, 2019, she was shot and killed by her ex-husband, Lloyd Livingstone Hanniford, in what authorities ruled as a murder-suicide. Hanniford, who was 65 years old at the time, turned the gun on himself after killing Lola. This tragic event occurred in their suburban Boynton Beach home, located on the 5500 block of Boynton Place.
Prior to this incident, Hanniford had a history of domestic violence. He had been arrested in July 2019 for allegedly threatening to kill Lola, but the state attorney's office declined to file charges against him. This decision was influenced by the complexities often present in domestic violence cases, such as issues involving relationships, children, and finances, which can sometimes lead to victims not cooperating with the case. Despite these challenges, the threat Hanniford posed was evident, as he had also been involved in a separate domestic violence incident in September 2019, where he threatened to shoot his son.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene of the murder-suicide and found both Lola and Hanniford deceased with gunshot wounds. The firearm used in the incident was not described in detail by the authorities, but it was noted that Hanniford had previously been in possession of a black Taurus 9 mm handgun during his prior arrests.
Lola's death highlighted the severe and often fatal consequences of domestic violence. Her family and friends were left to mourn the loss of a beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, whose life was cut short by a tragic act of violence. The community was reminded of the importance of addressing and preventing domestic violence to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent such heartbreaking outcomes.
