Woman charged with murder in mother’s shooting death inside Spring Branch apartment: Records

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A woman has been charged in the murder in which a 7-year-old girl was found alone with her mother’s body inside a Spring Branch apartment, court documents state.

The murder happened back on June 27 in the 2600 block of Hammerly Boulevard, but on Wednesday, charges were filed against 25-year-old Lakiri Leeonna Tolliver.

An initial investigation identified an unknown man as a suspect in the incident. He was interviewed by detectives, and no charges were filed against him.

Houston police say Laurielle Faulk, a 29-year-old mother, was found shot and killed inside a unit where she lived with her daughter.

Sixteen pages of court records released on Wednesday evening, after weeks of questions on who and why a 29-year-old mother was killed in her apartment on Hammerly Boulevard, reveal the suspect, 25-year-old Lakiri Leeonna Tolliver, and the victim were friends.

Court records show Faulk, Tolliver, and a male friend were hanging out on June 26 at Faulk’s home, and all of them fell asleep on the couch. The witness in the home sleeping next to the victim told police that Tolliver and Faulk fought over a robbery and the Tolliver’s boyfriend the night before, but he didn’t pay much attention. He says they all fell asleep, woke up in the morning, and he and Faulk got McDonald’s and then went back to sleep on the couch. He told detectives he’s a heavy sleeper and never heard the gunshot.

Police say Tolliver is seen on surveillance video inside the home going through the victim’s phone and then deactivating her camera. A second camera facing the front door captured the audio, according to court records, of the single shot fired on the morning of June 27. Court records state the man who was also in the home is heard a few minutes later being woken up by Tolliver

Witnesses told police that Tolliver told them she killed Faulk because she thought the victim was sneaking behind her back with her boyfriend. Tolliver is accused of telling the victim’s 7-year-old daughter to stay in her room, stealing the victim’s cell phone, pretending to be the victim over the phone, and stealing several of her belongings.

The man who was initially identified as a suspect was interviewed and cleared by police. Detectives say he was sleeping when the shooting took place.

Tolliver is accused of going back to the murder scene, leaving with more of the victim’s belongings, and calling police six hours after the murder took place.

Police say she’s accused of sharing multiple versions of what happened to friends, police, and victims hurting family, including accusing her own boyfriend of committing the murder.

Detectives detail in the court documents that Tolliver went back days before her arrest, on July 11, and is accused of breaking into the victim’s home through her window to steal more of her things.

Police say Tolliver could not tell them why she didn’t get medical help for the victim or why it took six hours for her to call the police after she left. Court documents state detectives say the suspect couldn’t tell police why she was being untruthful and then asked for a lawyer, and the interview ended.

She is being held on charges of murder, burglary, and tampering with evidence.

The unit is located in what is known as The Family Place, which is operated by The Women’s Home, a permanent supportive housing for homeless and low-income families.

According to its website, case managers at the complex offer assistance that includes mental healthcare, substance abuse treatment, and job training.