In the early morning hours of Tuesday, May 15, 2018, the life of 29-year-old Black / African American female Tanisha Lavonne Hairston was tragically cut short in Dunbar, West Virginia. A mother of two from the Charleston area, Hairston was discovered in a parking lot along Roxalana Hills Drive. The cause of her death was determined to be a gunshot wound.
Neighbors in the vicinity of the Roxalana Hills Apartments reported hearing gunshots shortly after 3 a.m.
However, law enforcement was not alerted at that time. It wasn't until approximately 7 a.m. that Hairston's body was found. Upon their arrival, investigators discovered evidence at the scene, including bullet casings and items covered in blood, located in the parking lot near a group of townhouses. Tanisha Hairston was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the immediate aftermath of the discovery, Dunbar Police began an investigation into her death, which they classified as a homicide. They publicly identified Hairston as the victim and began searching for leads. At one point, police were reportedly looking for a person of interest at a Walmart parking lot in Southridge.
Despite their efforts, the investigation into Tanisha Lavonne Hairston's murder has not led to any arrests, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case has grown cold, leaving her family and community without answers or justice for her untimely death. Law enforcement has previously asked for anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward.
