FLORIDA CITY, Fla. – The Florida City Commission held a special street renaming ceremony Tuesday to honor the life of a 17-year-old girl who was killed during a drive-by shooting in Florida City eight years ago.
Miami-Dade police said Noricia Talabert died in a shooting that took place on Oct. 17, 2015, after she was caught in the crossfire of a shooting.
According to investigators, three teenagers, including Talabert, were sitting in a red Nissan Sentra in the area of Northwest 12th Street and Northwest Eighth Place when another car pulled up alongside them and 15-year-old Christopher Walker allegedly opened fire at the victims, killing Talabert.
Rugina Talabert, Noricia Talabert’s mother, told Local 10 News Tuesday that she finds comfort in knowing that her daughter has impacted the lives of many people.
“She was such a beautiful young lady and I just miss her so much,” she said. “Every time I look up at that sign, I realize this isn’t about me. It’s about her making a difference in other children’s lives.”
Other local leaders said they are hoping that people research what happened to Talabert so it can prevent future gun violence.
“This was a young high school woman who was in the prime of her life and she was killed in a situation that did not involve her,” said Florida City Mayor Otis Wallace in a press release.
City leaders along with family and friends of Talabert gathered as a portion of Northwest Eighth Place was renamed Noricia J. Talabert Place.
Family members of Talabert told Local 10 News that she had a bright future and wanted to be a traveling nurse.
Jail records show Walker, of Homestead, was facing charges of first-degree murder, attempted murder and shooting or throwing a deadly missile, but his charges were eventually dropped after a key witness disappeared prior to trial.
In the years following the fatal shooting, Rugina Talabert started the Noricia Talabert Dream Foundation, which helps young girls in improving their lives and planning for the future.
“After she lost her life, God gave me a vision to do whatever I could do to help another young lady,” she said.
In addition to the dedication, both Florida City and Miami-Dade County officials revealed proclamations in Noricia Talbert’s honor.
“On behalf of Miami Dade County and this community, I do hereby proclaim Tuesday, October 17, 2023, as Noricia J. Talbert Anti-Violence Awareness Day,” said a Miami-Dade County official.
Rugina Talabert told Local 10 News that Tuesday’s honors help soothe the pain that she equates with this time of year.
“Yesterday was my birthday,” she said. “She (Noricia) got killed a day after my birthday. It always has been a bittersweet (day) with me, but I’m gonna take this day to be positive.”