On a tragic Tuesday, June 20, 2023, the community of Charlottesville, Virginia, lost a dedicated advocate and loving mother. Laura Marie DeLapp, a 46-year-old female, was fatally shot in the 1600 block of Rio Hill Drive. The Albemarle County Police Department responded to a call of shots fired at 4:36 p.m. and discovered DeLapp deceased at the scene. At the time of her passing, she was the manager of The Haven Day Shelter, a nonprofit organization serving the homeless community in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Her work and compassionate nature made a significant impact on the community she served.
Laura DeLapp, born on August 31, 1976, in Abingdon, Virginia, was a mother to five children, who were between the ages of 8 and 17 at the time of her death. She was remembered for her love of the outdoors, which she shared with her children through camping and riding 4-wheelers. Her dedication to her work as an advocate for the homeless and less fortunate was a passion she discovered after many years in the restaurant and retail management industry. Her contributions were recognized by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, and she was a participant in various community panels.
The investigation into her death quickly led authorities to a person of interest. Police identified 33-year-old Jemarcus Devonte Butler in connection with the fatal shooting. Butler was already wanted on a felony capias for malicious wounding in Lynchburg and for robbery in New York. The search for Butler concluded on a Friday in Washington, D.C., where he was arrested without incident by U.S. Marshals near Union Station at 9:45 a.m.
Following his apprehension, Jemarcus Devonte Butler was charged with second-degree murder in the shooting death of Laura DeLapp. The community mourned the loss of a woman described as a 'hero for the community,' leaving behind a legacy of compassion and advocacy. Fundraisers were established to support her five children and to assist with funeral costs.
