An argument between a woman and man drew in a larger group and ultimately resulted in the hit-and-run death of a 16-year-old girl this weekend in Minneapolis, according to charges filed Tuesday in Hennepin County District Court.
Latalia Anjolie Margalli, 22, was charged with one count of second degree intentional murder and five counts of second degree assault. She’s accused of running into a crowd with her SUV, killing 16-year-old De’Miaya Broome and injuring five others.
Latalia Anjolie Margalli (Courtesy of the Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office)
“This was a devastating crime,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a press release. “Ms. Margalli’s life-altering decision to drive her car into a group of people has left De’Miaya’s family with an enormous void. No outcome will ever bring back De’Miaya, who loved art and dreamed of becoming a nurse. However, we will seek accountability for her death in a way that protects our community from further dangerous behavior.”
Police were called to the scene at 12:23 a.m. Saturday on Fifth Street North at Hennepin Avenue, according the criminal complaint.
Officers spoke to a witness who arrived at the scene with Margalli, who said Margalli encountered a man she knew and they began to argue. The witness said a group of unknown women then got involved, telling Margalli to leave the man alone.
The witness said the argument escalated into a fight and Margalli got in her SUV after one woman sprayed mace, according to the criminal complaint. The witness said the women taunted them for leaving the fight and one of their friends jumped out of the vehicle to continue fighting.
Margalli then drove the SUV in reverse “in such a hurry” that she knocked one of her own passengers to the ground with the open passenger door, according to the complaint.
Margalli then put the vehicle in drive and accelerated the wrong way on Fifth Street directly toward the crowd without braking, striking multiple people including Broome, who was on the ground fighting with someone associated with Margalli, according to the complaint.
Officers took Margalli into custody soon after the hit-and-run with help from a witness who followed her.
Broome was pronounced dead at Hennepin Healthcare Hospital, according to a press release.
Five others sustained injuries ranging from bumps and bruises to broken legs and a head injury, according to the complaint. Injured were two 14-year-old girls, a woman, 26, a man, 24, and another man, 28.
According to the criminal complaint, officers viewed multiple surveillance videos capturing the incident.
Margalli remains jailed in lieu of $1.5 million bail ahead of a Wednesday court appearance. Court records do not list an attorney for her.
Margalli has a history of assault convictions, including a case when she and others assaulted a family member of Margalli’s. Margalli also has previous convictions of driving after license revocation.
Margalli’s license was suspended at the time of the hit-and-run due to an outstanding ticket in Iowa, according to the Department of Public Safety.
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