MINNEAPOLIS — In a harrowing incident in downtown Minneapolis, a conflict that escalated to physical violence ended with a teenager’s death when a woman allegedly drove her SUV into a crowd. Latalia Anjolie Margalli, 22, faces a second-degree murder charge and multiple counts of assault following the hit-and-run that killed 16-year-old De’Miaya Broome and injured five others.
The altercation unfolded early Saturday near the intersection of 5th and Hennepin Avenue, where Margalli and her friends encountered a man known to them. The confrontation escalated after Broome and her group intervened, asking Margalli to cease her harassment of the man.
As the dispute intensified, one participant used mace, leading Margalli to retreat to her vehicle. However, antagonized by taunts from Broome’s group, she reportedly re-entered her SUV. An additional witness reported that Margalli did not appear to brake as her vehicle plowed into the crowd.
Police reports supplemented by video evidence indicate that Margalli reversed her SUV abruptly, dislodging a passenger with the door still open, before driving forward against the traffic direction. Broome, who was involved in a ground scuffle at the time, was directly hit. Margalli then fled the scene.
Tragically, Broome succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital, while others suffered injuries ranging from fractures to head trauma.
Authorities later located Margalli’s vehicle and detained her. As of now, she remains in custody, with her actions bringing severe legal repercussions and community outcry.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty highlighted the seriousness of using vehicles as weapons, referencing two other recent incidents in the area. She stressed the destructive consequences of driving while enraged, urging the public to think twice before operating a vehicle in anger.
This is not an isolated instance, Moriarty emphasized during a press conference, but rather part of a disturbing trend of vehicular assaults. She and other community leaders are calling for calm and rational behavior, particularly in times of conflict.
The tragedy reached deeper into the community as Broome’s family shared memories of a vibrant young woman committed to her church, a lover of art, poetry, and animals. Her untimely death has sparked further discussions about violence and safety in public spaces.
This case serves as a solemn reminder of the rapid escalation of street confrontations to lethal force, prompting calls for both legal reforms and community-based interventions to prevent future tragedies.