MIAMI – Miami-Dade prosecutors have dropped charges against three family members who were previously accused in connection with the death of an 11-year-old girl who was accidentally shot by her 9-year-old brother in an apartment and later died at the hospital back in July.
Officials with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office said the case was closed based on insufficient evidence. However, officials clarified that if any new information or evidence emerges in the future that could support prosecution, the investigation would be reopened.
Recommended Videos
According to the suspects’ arrest reports, the shooting was reported around noon on July 9 at an apartment located near the 200 block of Northwest 17th Street in Overtown.
Miami police said the victim, identified as Taliyah Clarke, was in a bedroom with her 9-year-old brother when their father, Titato Hatzate Clarke, 40, and paternal grandmother, Charlene Ann Webster, 59, heard the sound of a gunshot. All three individuals were arrested when the incident occurred.
Police said Titato Clarke ran over to the kids’ room and found his daughter suffering from a gunshot wound to the upper left side of her chest. Authorities later confirmed that the victim’s younger brother pulled the trigger.
Police said Clarke drove his daughter to Holtz Children’s Hospital, where she underwent surgery, but was ultimately pronounced dead.
Neighbor Gina Saivilien told Local 10 News back in July that she was home at the time and did not hear the shot.
“Next thing we know, she was in the father’s arms and bleeding so badly,” she said.
According to the arrest reports, detectives executed a search warrant at the home and found one .40 caliber silver casing on the bedroom floor of the children’s room near a dog cage.
A detective found a Glock .40 caliber handgun wrapped inside of a pink scarf and brown blanket on top of the cage, the report stated.
Police said all three adults were home at the time of the shooting and had a shared responsibility to supervise the victim.
They were each facing a charge of aggravated manslaughter of a child.
According to Clarke’s arrest report, a criminal records check revealed that he had previously been convicted of 12 felonies.
Court records show Severe has a prior conviction for child abuse and her public defender argued in court Wednesday that she had no knowledge of any weapons in the home.
Family members created a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses for the victim, and it can be found by clicking here.
Read the story in Spanish by clicking here.
Read the closeout memo here: