A devastating incident unfolded near a McDonald’s restaurant in Northwest Washington, D.C., resulting in the tragic death of a 16-year-old girl following a heated dispute.
Naima Liggon, a 16-year-old resident of Waldorf, Maryland, lost her life due to a fatal stabbing during an altercation with another teenager. The accused, a 16-year-old girl hailing from the same area, now faces a series of charges, including second-degree murder while armed and assault with intent to kill while armed.
The grim incident transpired outside a McDonald’s establishment at the intersection of 14th and U streets Northwest around 2 a.m. on a Sunday. According to details presented in a Juvenile Court, the altercation stemmed from a disagreement over sweet-and-sour sauce, which initially unfolded within the confines of a car and subsequently escalated onto the sidewalk.
Tragically, Liggon suffered two stab wounds – one to her abdomen and another to her chest. The weapon, a bloody knife, was found in the possession of the accused girl who was apprehended a block away from the scene by law enforcement officers.
During an initial court hearing, it emerged that both teenagers were part of a larger group of five girls who had convened at the Birchwood Recreation Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, before driving to the District for a party on 15th Street Northwest. After the party, the altercation occurred at the restaurant.
While the defense argued for the girl’s release to the custody of her parents, asserting the act was an act of self-defense due to a confrontation that escalated out of the car, the court ordered her detention. Video surveillance footage and witnesses’ accounts contradicted the self-defense claim, indicating that Liggon was stabbed once during the confrontation on the sidewalk, and then again as the accused teenager lunged towards her as Liggon was returning to the car.
Liggon’s tragic ordeal continued as she was left on the sidewalk, while the driver and two other girls transported her, injured, to the hospital. Regrettably, her injuries proved fatal.
The accused girl, found a block away from the incident site, was identified by her companions who were brought back to the scene by homicide detectives.
The court found sufficient evidence to establish probable cause for multiple charges, including second-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill while armed, aggravated assault while armed, felony assault, possession of a prohibited weapon, and carrying a dangerous weapon.
Sixteen-year-old Naima Liggon’s untimely demise has left a void in the lives of her loved ones. Her mother, Joy Liggon, expressed her bewilderment at the tragic event: “I can’t understand how any type of a fight, whether it’s over sweet-and-sour sauce or any other topic, could result in a murder.”
As the families involved grapple with grief and justice, Liggon’s mother conveyed a message to parents: “Make sure that (they) know every time that they walk out of your door, that they are loved because you don’t know if that’s the last time that you’re going to see them.”
