A 16-year-old girl whose friend died in an altercation was sentenced Wednesday to stay in custody until she is 21, NBC Washington reported.
The unidentified boy killed his friend, 16-year-old Naima Ligon, during an argument over McDonald's sweet and sour sauce. according to NBC to Washington. The crash occurred outside a McDonald's store in Washington, D.C., last August. During sentencing, it became clear that the young defendant had shown a worrying lack of remorse, as evidenced by text messages sent immediately after the incident. Despite having a chance to de-escalate the situation, surveillance footage shows the boy chose a confrontation rather than leave or re-enter the McDonald's to resolve the issue over the sauce. did. (Related: McDonald's stores close after customer reveals shocking facts)
A judge has handed down the maximum sentence to a 16-year-old girl who fatally stabbed her friend during an argument over sweet and sour sauce. Neighbors also told The News4 Rundown that the weekend closure of Beach Drive will turn a quiet road into a parking lot on weekends. https://t.co/NxfnpEIJXN
— NBC4 Washington (@nbcwashington) February 1, 2024
The defense presented a self-defense story, arguing that the defendant was outnumbered and had no choice but to brandish the knife. They also focused on the defendant's troubled background and the various adversities she faced leading up to her fateful day, according to NBC Washington.
“I don't know what this young woman went through,” said the victim's mother, Joy Ligon. She said, “She doesn't know what life experiences she's been through, but she knows she committed a crime. And she took someone from my family.”
“I'm sorry to my friends and family. I'm sorry for causing this pain. I still think about the victim and want to apologize to Naima's mother. According to NBC Washington, the suspect “I am a very honest person and I am not a bad person,” he said in a statement. It has not yet been determined whether the defendant will be housed at D.C. Youth Services or at an out-of-state facility.
