Ariel McLaurin, 27, was shot and killed in her Portsmouth, Virginia, home on November 9, 2021. The shooting happened about 5:34 PM in the 2100 block of Pearl Street; first responders found McLaurin with a life-threatening gunshot wound and she died at the scene. The incident is described as stemming from a domestic dispute.

Police identified her 27-year-old boyfriend, Ryan Winfield, as the suspect. Winfield turned himself in to the Portsmouth Sheriff’s Office less than 48 hours after the shooting and was charged with second-degree murder. Court documents and social media posts attributed to him were cited as showing a volatile relationship and threatening messages. Reports say Winfield fired three shots through McLaurin’s front door after an argument; one of those shots fatally struck her.

Winfield later pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and other firearm-related charges were not pursued; sentencing was scheduled for August 10, 2023. McLaurin left six young children; her mother has spoken publicly about seeking justice and the impact of domestic violence. Anyone with information about Ariel or the case is asked to come forward.