A 16-year-old girl named Naima Liggon was fatally stabbed during a late-night altercation that began over McDonald’s sweet-and-sour sauce, according to Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department. The incident occurred in a busy area of D.C. known for its nightlife.
Police Response and Medical Intervention
Police were alerted to the situation when they were called to a nearby hospital shortly after 2 a.m. local time. Despite attempts to save her, Liggon succumbed to her injuries. “Despite all lifesaving efforts, the victim succumbed to her injuries,” said the police in an official statement.
Suspect Arrested and Charged
Following a brief investigation, another teen girl, also from Waldorf, Maryland, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder while armed. The unnamed minor was found to be in possession of a knife at the time of her arrest. She has pleaded not involved, the juvenile equivalent of not guilty, according to the Washington Post.
Judicial Proceedings
D.C. Superior Court Judge Sherri Beatty-Arthur ordered the suspect to be held in custody until a further hearing on Friday. “At the end of the day, someone is dead over a dispute over sauce,” Beatty-Arthur remarked.
Details of the Altercation
Detective Brendan Jasper testified that security camera footage showed Liggon and the accused 16-year-old in a physical altercation after an initial argument about the sauce. Although the accused minor didn’t initially fight back, she later “lunged” at Liggon with a 7.5-inch pocketknife, striking her in the chest and abdomen. The suspect’s lawyer has claimed she acted in self-defense.
A Family’s Grief
Liggon’s mother, Joy Liggon, described her late daughter as a “beautiful, smart, funny, and unique young lady” who had just been hired at Krispy Kreme and was preparing to get her driver’s license. “Naima will never see her prom or her graduation. We will not get to see her graduate from college or get married or have kids,” she said in a statement.
Rising Juvenile Crime
Naima Liggon is the 13th person under the age of 18 to be killed in Washington, D.C., this year. Two other teens were also killed in the city over the same weekend. A youth curfew will be reinstated in parts of Washington on Friday to address the uptick in violent juvenile crime. The curfew restricts children under 17 from being in public without an adult between certain hours.
