Chesapeake woman's killing may be case of mistaken identity

CHESAPEAKE

A 32-year-old mother of four was killed last week in what appears to be a case of mistaken identity, her family said.

Shevelle V. Taylor was fatally stabbed June 5 in the 2100 block of Bainbridge Blvd., in South Norfolk, according to Chesapeake police. A 28-year-old woman, Lucinda Luster, has been charged with first-degree murder in the case.

About two hours before the stabbing, her family members said, Taylor had been approached by a woman who threatened her and repeatedly referred to her as "Cupcake."

"She didn't know the lady," said her aunt, Diane Smith, pastor of Full Gospel - The Way Ministries in Virginia Beach.

Taylor, a resident of the 2000 block of McLain St., in South Norfolk, went home and told her family about the woman.

"She was threatened by her but she didn't pay any attention to her," said her aunt, Annette Fentress of Virginia Beach. "The woman kept calling her 'Cupcake.' "

The family believes that the suspect was angry with someone else, mistaking Taylor for that person. Taylor ran into the woman again about 1:40 a.m. that Thursday a block from her home.

"The girl approached her again, calling her 'Cupcake' again. Her back was turned," Fentress said.

Police said Luster approached Taylor as she was leaving an apartment and chased her down, stabbing her multiple times. Rescue workers took Taylor to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where she died, police said.

Luster, a resident of the 1100 block of Riviera Drive in the Pinewood Village area of Virginia Beach, was taken into custody at the scene. She is scheduled to appear Aug. 6 in Chesapeake General District Court for a preliminary hearing.

A police spokesperson could not be reached late Tuesday for information about a motive. Police initially said the killing followed an altercation between the two women.

Taylor's family called the killing senseless.

"I just pray for her," Smith said. "She's got to be disturbed."

Taylor left behind a son and three daughters, ranging in age from 6 to 16. They are being cared for by other family members.

Taylor was an active, outgoing person, working with youths in church. She also worked in the church's outreach, helping in the nursing home ministry, her aunts said.

"Everybody liked her," Fentress said. "She was very popular."

Smith said she received a call in the middle of the night from her sister, telling her that "Shevelle is dead."

"I said, 'W hat did you say?' I really couldn't grasp it," Smith said.

Taylor had worked as a home care provider. She was helping to care for a sick relative on weekends, her family said.

She had filled out paperwork for a life insurance policy two days before her death, but was not covered, her aunts said.

The family has established the Shevelle V. Taylor Memorial Fund to help pay for the cost of the burial. Donations can be made at any Bank of America branch.

A funeral is set for noon Thursday at New Weeping Mary Baptist Church, 1104 Fentress Road, Chesapeake.

John Hopkins, (757) 222-5221, john.hopkins@pilotonline.com