She's now being accused of murder but in an online video posted several years ago, Lakeisha Holloway talked about beating the odds and overcoming homelessness.
Action News is digging deeper into her background to learn what led up to her driving her car into a crowd of people on the Las Vegas strip.
"I was a scared little girl who knew that there was more to life outside of crime, drug addiction," said Lakeisha Holloway in the video.
Family members tell Action News they are headed to Las Vegas.
La'Shay Hardaway, the suspect's cousin, says she's a very good person. The family cannot believe this has happened. They said they are praying for all of the victims of this tragic situation.
In the online video, Holloway looks less like the woman arrested in the crash, more like a role model.
"I'm a mature young woman who has broken many generational cycle," she said.
Holloway credited the Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center (POIC) with helping her eventually land a federal job. This, after overcoming homelessness and struggles as a single mom.
The young mom said in the video that her problems started early on.
"During my freshman year in school, my mom put me out and that would be the last time I lived with her," she said.
POIC released the following statement regarding the Las Vegas crash on their website.
"We at Portland OIC are shocked and deeply saddened by the events that occurred last night in Las Vegas. Lakeisha Holloway participated in our work programs. Although Ms. Holloway never attended Rosemary Anderson High School, she worked closely with our youth employment staff and was honored for her achievements in the program at the Portland OIC Work Connection Breakfast with our C.A.R.E Role Model Award in 2012. Portland OIC is committed to supporting youth through the age of 25, however, Ms. Holloway has not been involved with the organization for at least two years."
“It’s hard to believe that Lakeisha did this, she was such a great kid while she was a part of our program,” stated one of our Youth Employment staff members.
"Our hearts go out to the family of the young woman who was killed in this tragedy, and our thoughts and prayers are with the many others injured on Sunday night."
Holloway could make her first court appearance as early as Tuesday.
