MILWAUKEE, WI – Authorities are investigating the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old woman found dead in a Milwaukee motel, a case that has led to the arrest of Lance Devon White, who police say admitted to pulling the trigger.

Officers responded to the Port Motel on Appleton Avenue shortly before 2:40 p.m. on Jan. 14. When emergency crews arrived, they discovered Alicia Machnik lying lifeless on the bed, suffering from a gunshot wound to the forehead. She was pronounced dead at the scene, according to records from the Milwaukee Police Department.

Investigators noted Machnik had a single gunshot wound to her upper right forehead, with the bullet exiting the back of her head. Authorities also found several items belonging to White inside the motel room, including identification documents and banking cards.

Surveillance footage reviewed by police shows White leaving the motel room around 11:30 a.m., approximately three hours before staff discovered Machnik’s body. The same footage indicated that no one else entered or exited the room in the intervening time.

A motel employee told officers that he saw Machnik at around 11:30 a.m., when she requested an extra night’s stay. That employee later returned to her room when she failed to respond, and discovered her body on the bed, which prompted the call to emergency services.

Based on digital evidence, police tracked what appeared to be White’s movements. An individual using Machnik’s Uber account left the motel for another location roughly an hour after authorities believe Machnik was shot. Witnesses at a second nearby motel reported a man matching White’s description attempting to check in, but he lacked identification and was turned away.

White was eventually found at St. Luke’s Hospital and was taken into custody by police without incident.

During an interview with detectives, White acknowledged being in a relationship with Machnik for about a year and said the two often moved between motels. He admitted to shooting Machnik, stating that she told him to fire at the spot on her forehead where his name was tattooed. White claimed she made the request out of fear, believing someone from her past posed a threat to both of them. He told investigators he panicked and fled the room after the shooting, later discarding the gun in a sewer.

Family members and acquaintances provided additional background for police. Machnik’s mother said her daughter had married White the previous year and struggled with personal issues since then. Another man who identified himself as Machnik’s former partner of five years told officers he frequently helped her financially while she moved among various motels.

White faces a charge of first-degree intentional homicide and is expected to appear in court on Wednesday. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities continue to gather evidence related to the case.