In the summer of 2018, on the Fourth of July, the life of a 29-year-old White/Caucasian woman, Courtney Gaboriault, was tragically cut short. In the city of Barre, Vermont, a place she called home, Courtney was found outside her apartment, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Her death was the result of a devastating act of domestic violence.
Courtney, who was remembered by friends and colleagues as a kind and caring person with a love for her dog, family, and fashion, worked for
the Vermont Department of Public Safety for five years, most recently with the Vermont Marijuana Registry. Her sudden and violent death sent ripples of grief and shock through her community and among her coworkers, who mourned the loss of a vibrant and beloved individual.
The investigation into Courtney's death quickly revealed a grim picture of what had transpired. Law enforcement determined that her death was a homicide, perpetrated by her 30-year-old former boyfriend, Luke Lacroix. After shooting Courtney, Lacroix took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. This conclusion meant there would be no arrest or trial, as the suspect in her murder was also deceased.
In the wake of this tragedy, those who knew Courtney came together to honor her memory. A vigil was held in Barre, where more than 100 people gathered to pay tribute to the woman whose life was taken too soon. The focus of the community shifted to remembering Courtney and raising awareness about the devastating impact of domestic violence, a scourge that had claimed a bright and promising life.
