On June 27, police in Houston, Texas were called to an apartment complex after reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, a seven-year-old girl greeted them, revealing that her mother, Laurielle Faulk, 29, was lying under a green blanket on the couch. Officers quickly ascertained that Faulk had suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head.
An affidavit, filed two and a half months after the tragic incident, implicated 25-year-old Lakiri L. Tolliver in the death of Faulk. The police announced Tolliver’s arrest on July 14, also highlighting allegations of her returning to the crime scene to loot Faulk’s belongings.
As per the young girl’s account, Faulk, Tolliver, and an unidentified male were in the apartment on the night preceding the incident. In the morning, Tolliver allegedly instructed the child to go to her bedroom, after which she covered Faulk with the green blanket.
Further examination into the incident shows that Tolliver acquired Faulk’s phone, impersonating her on Instagram and suggesting an unidentified male was responsible for the crime. The inconsistencies in Tolliver’s narrative heightened suspicions.
While security footage from Faulk’s residence didn’t explicitly show the crime, it did detail activities leading up to it. This included Tolliver using Faulk’s phone around 10:30 a.m., with the subsequent recording of a gunshot. Preliminary police findings suggest a potential motive: Tolliver’s belief that Faulk was involved with her boyfriend.
Following the shooting, video surveillance displayed both Tolliver and the unnamed man leaving Faulk’s residence with bags in tow, making several trips to collect various items, including Faulk’s luxury brand bags.
Although Tolliver dialed 911 around 6 p.m., she soon disconnected. Evidence also points to Tolliver revisiting the scene on July 11, taking several belongings. Her arrest occurred on July 14. Initially, Tolliver refuted claims of being at Faulk’s residence on the murder day. However, when confronted with video proof, she redirected blame to her male companion, even as evidence showed him likely asleep when the incident occurred.
The latest update confirms that Tolliver is in custody and has been denied bail.
