According to Lakeisha Holloway’s Facebook photos , as reported by the Inquisitr , the smiling and sultry photos of Lakeisha didn’t give much of a clue as to the heinous actions of the 24-year-old, when she allegedly plowed over people on the Las Vegas Strip. Across social media, some are already labeling Holloway a “black Muslim terrorist,” without facts to back up those charges.
Lakeisha Holloway Facebook Photos: Pictures, Video Of 24-Year-Old Holloway Examined… https://t.co/4cxtWPJfZU pic.twitter.com/YlbC1ERJkb
— The Inquisitr (@theinquisitr) December 21, 2015
As reported by the Associated Press , what is known about Holloway thus far aren’t any credibly reported Muslim beliefs, but what can be gathered is that Lakeisha was homeless when she used her vehicle as a weapon on the Las Vegas Strip. Holloway had her 3-year-old daughter in the car when she allegedly drove into pedestrians in what authorities say was a search to find Holloway’s daughter’s father.
Police have examined video of Lakeisha driving and have said they rule out Holloway being a terrorist. On Twitter, however, a search for “ Holloway Muslim ” already turns up claims that Lakeisha shouted Islamic phrases, like “Allahu Akbar” (Arabic: ???? ????), which is a phrase in Arabic that translates to “God is greater” or “God is [the] greatest” and is sometimes shouted by Muslim extremists prior to committing terrorist acts. However, despite the Twitter claims that Lakeisha is a Muslim and that Holloway reportedly shouted the Islamic phrase, called “Takbir” in Arabic, no credible reports have emerged saying that is true.
Tweets proclaiming, “MUSLIM TERROR ATTACK ON VEGAS STRIP: Muslim Woman Lakisha Holloway Yelling Allahu Akbar Intentionally Ran Over 40 People On Vegas Strip” often link to dubious blog posts and there is no authoritative report that states Lakeisha held any Muslim beliefs. An article on The Skanner , a Portland publication, allegedly states information about Lakeisha’s supposed Muslim beliefs; however, it appears the article has changed or featured Google ads making those claims. It’s also possible the screenshots were potentially Photoshopped, because a current viewing of the site (both the web-based and mobile site) shows that the Google ads appear in a different position.
The undoctored Lakeisha article photos do not appear to have such ads nearby.
Instead, Lakeisha — who is on suicide watch in jail — has had her mental state questioned by Holloway’s defense attorney, likely already mounting an insanity defense. Lakeisha did not appear upset after crashing into so many people on the Las Vegas Strip, according to Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo. Instead, Holloway told a valet to contact authorities after she ran over people on the Strip. Though Holloway spoke with clarity with police afterward, they declined to state what Lakeisha told them. Lombardo only related Lakeisha’s seemingly uncaring demeanor.
“She didn’t appear to be distressed due to her actions. That’s the best way I can describe it.”
The Associated Press also reports that five wrestlers from a Philadelphia college were injured when Lakeisha Holloway ran into them, but no reports of Holloway or Muslim beliefs appear therein. As of this writing, a search for “ Lakeisha Muslim ” on the Associated Press website does not return any articles about Holloway claiming Muslim beliefs.
Police officials have yet to declare a motive to the public outside of Lakeisha’s possible hunt for her child’s father. Holloway changed her name from Lakeisha to Paris Paradise Morton in October. Holloway had run out of money and was searching for the child’s father. While authorities don’t believe Lakeisha was drunk, they believe Holloway had consumed some type of stimulant.
When Holloway crashed into the crowds near the Planet Hollywood and Paris casinos near the Bellagio hotel, Lakeisha injured approximately 37 people. One person was killed, 32-year-old Jessica Valenzuela, and others were left in critical condition with head injuries.
Some of the tweets on Twitter are linking to news about Lakeisha on The Skanner , a Portland publication, and the fact that Holloway won a CARE Role Model award, but there are no mentions of Muslim beliefs therein, either.
“Lakeisha Holloway, a graduate, received a CARE Role Model award. Lakeisha Holloway described being homeless during her freshman year in high school and explained that her mother had lost hope after struggling many years to earn a living with only an 8th Grade education. More and more she had turned to alcohol, leaving Lakeisha to fend for herself. Yet with the help of POIC, Holloway is a graduate pursuing a career in the forest service.”
“I would like to thank the Forest Service for sending me an application and taking a chance on me. And I’d like to thank POIC for the love and support and for being more than a program, for being a blessing.”
[Photo by David Becker/AP Photo]