In what was a tragic end to a history of domestic abuse, 24-year-old Vicky Sonevong was killed in her Providence, Rhode Island apartment on March 1, 2018. The young mother was fatally shot by her estranged boyfriend, Steve Soundara, who then turned the gun on himself in a devastating murder-suicide. The incident unfolded in the home Sonevong shared with her two young children, a 4-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter, who were in the direct vicinity at the time of the shooting.
Reports
indicate that Soundara had subjected Sonevong to years of physical abuse and had repeatedly threatened her life. The relationship was often estranged, and the fatal attack occurred during a period of separation, a time known to be particularly dangerous for victims of domestic violence. The presence of a firearm escalated the risk, leading to the tragic outcome that marked the first domestic violence homicide in the area for 2018.
Those who knew Sonevong remembered her as a sweet and kind person who was a devoted mother to her children, Andrew Soundara and Veronica Sonevong. She was the daughter of Chanthapone Sonevong and Vankham "Noy" Sonevong. Her death left her family, including her two brothers, Sonny and Danny Sonevong, devastated. The community mourned the loss of a young life and was left to grapple with the profound impact of domestic violence on families, particularly the two children who lost their mother in such a violent manner.
