In the early hours of Christmas Eve 2023, the life of 43-year-old Laneshia Shanay Soward Bledsoe was tragically cut short in an act of violence outside her own home. A Black/African American female, Laneshia was the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred at approximately 3:30 a.m. in the Whitehaven neighborhood of Memphis, Tennessee. The incident unfolded as a carjacking, during which she sustained multiple gunshot wounds.
First responders arrived at the scene and transported her to a local hospital, but she ultimately succumbed to her injuries.
Laneshia was a woman remembered for her vibrant personality and dedication to her loved ones. A graduate of Hillcrest High School, she was known for her love of fashion, a passion she showcased through her work at Milano Menswear. She is survived by her husband, Terence Bledsoe, and their eight children. Her sudden and violent death left her family and the community in a state of shock and profound grief.
In the wake of the shooting, the Memphis Police Department launched an investigation into her murder. As part of their efforts to identify the person responsible, they released surveillance footage that captured a suspect walking near the area of East Holmes and Hudgins Road around the time of the incident. Despite this public release of information and pleas from Laneshia's family for anyone with information to come forward, no arrests have been made in the case. The individual responsible for her death remains unidentified and at large.
As time has passed, Laneshia's family continues to advocate for justice. Her mother, Linda Jones, has publicly expressed her frustration with the lack of progress in the investigation. To honor her memory and to keep her case in the public eye, her family held a balloon release on what would have been her 44th birthday in September 2024. The investigation into the death of Laneshia Bledsoe is ongoing, with her family and community still awaiting answers and the closure that an arrest would bring.
