3 jailed without bond after girl is shot and killed at residence in Miami; mother calls for justice
MIAMI — Three people are in jail without bond Thursday morning after they were charged in a shooting that killed 11-year-old Taliyah Clarke, whose mother is pleading for answers.
When Chantrell Manning talks about her daughter Taliyah, the grieving mother remembers her as a loving, innocent child.
"She was a butterfly, beautiful. Very inspiring," Manning said. "She just had like, a pure soul. Such a sweetheart. Sweet, sweet baby."
"She lights up the room. She just was like the all-around girl. It's just so sad, you know, that she's no longer here with us," Manning continued.
Police received a call around noon on Tuesday about a shooting at an apartment complex on Northwest 2nd Avenue and Northwest 17th Street in the Overtown neighborhood of Miami.
According to police, Taliyah was staying with her dad Titato Clarke, as well as Clarke's mother, Charlene Ann Webster, and his girlfriend, Nancy Severe, when she was shot while in a bedroom with her 9-year-old brother.
Clarke rushed his daughter to Jackson Memorial Hospital, but it was too late.
"There were two children allegedly alone in a bedroom, one child firing a gun shooting the other, then died as a result of that wound. All three of those adults count as caretakers under the statute," said an attorney in bond court.
According to the statute, Clarke, Webster and Severe are all considered caregivers under Florida law. They were arrested and charged with manslaughter.
Severe, Clark's girlfriend, claimed in court she did not know that weapons were in the house. When police searched the home, they found a gun on top of a dog cage wrapped in a blanket.
Now as Taliyah's father, grandmother and his girlfriend sit behind bars, her mother is planning a funeral.
"I don't feel like everyone is responsible, I just feel like they should've been more attentive. Be more attentive to the children," Manning said.
According to police, Clarke has 12 previous felony convictions.