Murder Charge Filed In Minneapolis Hit-And-Run That Killed Girl

MINNEAPOLIS — The Hennepin County Attorney’s Office on Tuesday filed murder and other charges against Latalia Anjolie Margalli for a fatal hit-and-run in downtown Minneapolis early Saturday.

Margalli, 22, of Minneapolis, drove her SUV into a crowd of people during an altercation between two groups downtown, according to prosecutors. If convicted, she faces up to 40 years in prison.

The crash killed 16-year-old De’Miaya Broome and injured at least five others.

The five people who survived the crash were identified as the following:

• Two 14-year-old girls suffered apparent non-life-threatening injuries
• A 24-year-old man suffered apparent non-life-threatening injuries
• A 28-year-old man suffered apparent non-life-threatening injuries
• A 29-year-old woman suffered potentially life-threatening-injuries

Margalli now faces charges of second-degree murder (intent to kill without premeditation) and five counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon.

"This was a devastating crime," Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said.

"Ms. Margalli’s life-altering decision to drive her car into a group of people has left De’Miaya’s family with an enormous void. No outcome will ever bring back De’Miaya, who loved art and dreamed of becoming a nurse. However, we will seek accountability for her death in a way that protects our community from further dangerous behavior."

Margalli is being held at the Hennepin County Jail on a $1,500,000 bail.

On Saturday, Sept. 14, just after midnight, Minneapolis police responded to reports of a hit-and-run at the intersection of 5th Street and Hennepin Avenue. Officers arrived to find multiple people injured.

Prosecutors say that prior to the crash, Margalli and her friends had been involved in an altercation with De’Miaya and her friends.

During the fight, Margalli got into her SUV and reversed so quickly that she knocked her would-be passenger to the ground with the open passenger door, according to police.

Moments later, Margalli accelerated forward, driving the wrong way down 5th Street, directly toward the fight and the surrounding crowd, the criminal complaint states. Without braking, she drove into the group, striking several people, including De’Miaya, authorities said.

Margalli then fled the scene but was quickly located after a witness followed her SUV, according to the criminal complaint.

De’Miaya was pronounced dead at the hospital, while the other victims suffered injuries ranging from bruises to broken legs and a head injury.