In the quiet community of Loris, South Carolina, a domestic dispute escalated into a fatal encounter, leaving a husband dead and his wife facing a murder charge. On the evening of May 12, 2024, 64-year-old Michael Smith was shot and killed in his home on Long Meadow Drive. Responding to a 911 call, Horry County Police discovered him in his bedroom with a gunshot wound to his upper right chest.
A black handgun was found near his body.
The caller was his wife, 63-year-old Laura Ann Smith, who was waiting for officers outside their residence. According to arrest warrants, the couple had been engaged in a verbal argument concerning their finances. During the dispute, Laura Smith allegedly shot her husband twice in the torso with a revolver. After the shooting, she reportedly contacted the authorities to report the incident.
Laura Ann Smith was arrested at the scene and has been charged with murder. She was subsequently booked into the J. Reuben Long Detention Center. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Michael Smith's death is ongoing. Neighbors expressed their shock and disbelief at the violent turn of events, stating they had seen the couple earlier in the day and that they had appeared to be happy.
