Henrico homicide victim was in fight

By Mark Bowes

Published: January 3, 2009

A woman being held as a person of interest in Wednesday's slaying of a Henrico County woman had fought with the victim last Saturday over a man, police said.

Both women had been romantically involved with him, authorities said.

Kayla Camille Armstrong, 25, was arrested late Wednesday on outstanding misdemeanor assault and vandalism warrants related to a confrontation last weekend with Keiona Cecilia Tiree Braxton, 26, who was found fatally injured Wednesday morning inside her burning apartment.

Police said that last Saturday, Braxton suffered a cut to her head in a fight with Armstrong, who also allegedly vandalized her car that day. Braxton sought out charges against Armstrong after the fight, which police described as a "mutual combat" altercation.

The women were fighting over Braxton's boyfriend, whom Armstrong once dated, said Henrico police Lt. Doug Perry. The man, who wasn't identified, was living with Braxton in her apartment, he added.

"It was ex-girlfriend against new girlfriend," Perry said.

In addition to last Saturday's fight, Armstrong was arrested on a November 2007 complaint by Braxton about profane language, just days after Armstrong made a similar complaint about Braxton. Neither one was

found guilty.

Armstrong hasn't been charged with Braxton's slaying, but she is a person of interest in the case, police said.

Police are awaiting a report from the state medical examiner's office on how Braxton died. Authorities don't believe Braxton died as a result of a fire that apparently started on the upper floor of her two-level, townhouse-style apartment in the 5700 block of Crenshaw Road in The Noelle at Brook Hill.

After responding to the 6:46 a.m. blaze, firefighters found Braxton unconscious on the lower floor near a door. They pulled her out and began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but they were unable to revive her. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

Braxton's death brings Henrico's 2008 homicide count to 16, or one fewer than in 2007.
Contact Mark Bowes at (804) 649-6450 or .