FL Woman Convicted In Sarasota Shooting That Killed Teen, Injured 2

SARASOTA, FL — A Tampa woman, who was age 16 at the time, was recently convicted of manslaughter in connection with the February 2022 shooting that killed a teenage boy and injured two other juveniles in Sarasota.

Sarasota Police said Sha'Miya Williams, currently 19 years old, was a teenager when she was accused of opening fire around 4:15 p.m. Feb. 6 in the 2200 block of Palmadelia Avenue.

A 17-year-old boy who was shot later died while at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, police said. The shooting injured a 16-year-old boy in the hand and a 9-year-old girl in the shoulder, police said.

Six more juveniles — ages 7, 10, 11, 13, 13 and 17 — were in the line of gunfire but were not injured, police said. A motive for the shooting is unknown.

Williams was arrested the next day by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, police said.

She was initially charged on suspicion of homicide and attempted homicide in connection with the shooting, police said. But, a jury last week convicted her of one count of manslaughter and eight counts of attempted manslaughter, police said.

Two days later, Thamar Liafortune, a 16-year-old Bradenton resident at the time, surrendered to authorities in connection with the shooting, police said. They did further specify the connection.

Liafortune was charged on suspicion of homicide and attempted homicide, police said.

Sentencing for Williams will be scheduled at a later date.