On a tragic evening in Huntsville, Alabama, the life of 27-year-old Laricia Latrice Foster, a Black female, was cut short. On April 17, 2016, just before 11 p.m., police responded to a call about a shooting on Brookside Drive. There they discovered Foster on the ground, suffering from a single gunshot wound. She was quickly transported to Huntsville Hospital but succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival.
The investigation into Foster's death revealed a history of domestic turmoil
with her fiancé, 22-year-old Alfonso Collier. On the day of the fatal incident, the couple had been engaged in a heated argument that escalated. The dispute moved outside their home, where Collier retrieved a handgun from his vehicle. During a physical struggle between the two, the gun discharged, striking Foster.
Authorities arrested Alfonso Collier and initially charged him with murder. During the trial, Collier maintained that the shooting was an accident that occurred while he and Foster were struggling over the firearm. Witnesses, including Foster's mother, testified about the ongoing arguments between the couple. Ultimately, a jury convicted Collier of a lesser charge, criminally negligent homicide.
In April 2018, Collier was sentenced to 12 months in prison, with six months to be served in jail and the remaining six months suspended, followed by two years of supervised probation. After failing to report to begin his sentence, he was later resentenced to 11 months of imprisonment, followed by two years of probation. The tragic death of Laricia Foster left behind her three children and a family mourning a life ended by domestic violence.
