KENT COUNTY, MICHIGAN: A man from Michigan has been arrested and charged in connection with his wife's killing, which occurred just one day after she had filed for divorce.
Reports from MLive, WOOD 8, and FOX 17 indicate that Marcus Lofton, aged 42 and residing in Grand Rapids, confessed to shooting his wife, Alicia Lofton, on August 17.
Shots fired during altercation
This incident came shortly after Alicia initiated divorce proceedings and six months after their marriage in February.
According to court documents cited in the aforementioned reports, Alicia was discovered dead outside her residence after cops arrived in response to reported gunshots. Marcus was apprehended later on the same day.
The police narrative suggests that an altercation between the couple unfolded on the morning of the shooting, during which Marcus purportedly grabbed a firearm from a drawer to intimidate Alicia.
However, the gun discharged accidentally during the confrontation. In her attempt to escape, Alicia locked herself in a bedroom, which Marcus forcibly entered.
Subsequently, he fired shots at Alicia as she tried to flee through a window, as stated in the affidavit.
It was noted that Marcus had previously been arrested in May for alleged domestic violence involving Alicia. Presently, he faces charges of murder and felony firearm possession, as confirmed by Kent County Prosecutor Christopher Becker.
He is being held without bond and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. A forthcoming probable cause conference is scheduled for August 29.
GoFundMe campaign launched for Alicia's children
A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated by Alicia's family members to support her three children. The fundraiser aims to assist them in the wake of their mother's tragic death.
“Their mother was tragically taken from us on August 17th and with my niece’s permission I wanted to help them in any way possible,” wrote fundraiser organizer Faustino Garcia.
The campaign highlights that Alicia's eldest daughter is in her final year of college, her son is on the brink of starting college, and her younger daughter is still in high school.
For those experiencing domestic violence, assistance is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or thehotline.org. All interactions are confidential and toll-free, accessible in over 170 languages.
