In the late summer of 2024, the life of 44-year-old Lawrence Fredrick Nichols Jr., a Black male from Little Rock, Arkansas, came to a tragic and violent end. A family-oriented man, known for his love of cooking and the time he spent with his children and grandchildren, Nichols worked as a cook at an Olive Garden restaurant in the city. The last time his mother, Patricia Harris, had contact with him was on August 31, 2024, when he told her he was at a local hospital waiting for his son to pick
him up. When his son did not arrive, Nichols left the hospital on foot, and his family's worry began to grow as he remained missing.
The grim discovery was made on September 9, 2024, when a citizen walking in the Sweet Home area of Pulaski County stumbled upon a deceased male in the vicinity of Harper and Asher Roads. The Pulaski County Sheriff's Office was called to the scene, and the body was later identified as that of Lawrence Nichols Jr. An investigation was immediately launched by the Criminal Investigations Division, who determined that Nichols had been the victim of a homicide.
The investigation into Nichols's death progressed swiftly. It was determined that he had sustained a gunshot wound to his upper body. Further investigation revealed that the murder did not take place where his body was found, but rather at a residence located at 4618 West 21st Street in Little Rock on September 1, 2024. Just three days after the discovery of his body, on September 12, 2024, the Pulaski County Sheriff's Office announced an arrest in connection with the homicide. Lavar Moore, a 45-year-old man, was taken into custody. He has been charged with capital murder and abuse of a corpse and is currently being held at the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Lawrence Nichols Jr. is ongoing.
