Lacie Christabelle LaRose, a 19-year-old female student at Blinn College in College Station, Texas, tragically lost her life on May 3, 2015. She was born on February 2, 1996, in Irving, Texas, and was the daughter of Robert L. and April R. Hollinghead LaRose. Lacie was known for her passion for saving animals, and her family established a GoFundMe page titled “Love ‘em Like Lacie” to honor her memory and continue her dream.
The incident occurred during a graduation party hosted by
Landon Duke, a 23-year-old Texas A&M student. The party was held to celebrate Duke's upcoming graduation, and people had gathered to watch the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao fight. Ronald McNeil, a 39-year-old neighbor of the party host and a convicted felon, was not invited to the party but showed up with a few friends. An argument broke out between McNeil's friends and the partygoers over the rules of a beer pong game, which led to a brief physical altercation.
After being asked to leave, McNeil allegedly warned the partygoers that he was going home to get his gun. He returned to the party armed with a handgun and fired 14 shots, one of which struck Lacie LaRose in the neck. She was a bystander and not involved in the altercation. Despite being rushed to the College Station Medical Center, Lacie succumbed to her injuries.
Ronald McNeil was arrested the same night by College Station police and charged with murder, two counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and a third-degree felony deadly conduct charge. He claimed that he only intended to scare the partygoers and that the shooting was accidental. McNeil was held on a $500,000 bail at Brazos County Jail. The case remains under investigation, and the LaRose family continues to seek justice for Lacie.
The tragic death of Lacie LaRose highlights the devastating consequences of violence and the importance of resolving conflicts peacefully. Her memory lives on through the efforts of her family and the community to honor her dream of saving animals.
