In Lansing, Michigan, a long-simmering family feud culminated in the tragic death of 23-year-old LeeAnn Hawkins. The fatal encounter occurred on March 21, 2021, during a confrontation at an apartment complex on Forest Road. LeeAnn, a young mother, was shot in the face and succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital six days later, on March 27.
The shooter was identified as Ashley Person, LeeAnn's sister-in-law.
The two women had a history of animosity that escalated on that fateful day. LeeAnn, accompanied by two of her other sisters-in-law, went to Person's residence and called for her to come outside. Feeling threatened, Person emerged from her home with a handgun.
During the ensuing trial, the prosecution argued that Person's actions were deliberate and intentional, pointing to messages she had sent to family members expressing a desire to cause harm. Although Person claimed the shooting was accidental, the evidence suggested otherwise. The jury learned that Person had chambered a round in her handgun and aimed it at LeeAnn's head before pulling the trigger.
After a trial that drew significant attention due to the nature of the family conflict, the jury deliberated for approximately three hours before finding Ashley Person guilty of second-degree murder and felony firearm possession. The second-degree murder charge carries a potential sentence of life in prison. The sentencing for Person was scheduled for January 14, 2024. LeeAnn Hawkins's death was one of a record number of homicides in Lansing in 2021, a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of gun violence.
