The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Florida announced an arrest Friday that family says is related to the death of 19-year-old Aniyah Womack, according to reports.
A family member of Womack’s told local news that police have been keeping the family updated on all developments in the case and they were notified that 20-year-old Mariah Clayton was arrested on manslaughter charges.
In a press release distributed Friday, JSO announced Clayton’s arrest. JSO said the arrest was in connection to a shooting. They did not name the victim, but said they were shot in the 1200 block of Kendall Town Boulevard. They say the victim had a single gunshot wound and died at the hospital.
When Womack died May 24, her family said she was alive and in critical condition when she got to the hospital, but did not live. They also said she was at an apartment in the Regency area, which includes Kendall Town Boulevard, when she was shot.
According to JSO, officers were called to Memorial Hospital around 12:30 a.m.
Taylor said she and Womack spoke over the phone just six hours before then.
“She said that she was going to be home today. So that’s what we were waiting on for her to come home,” said Womack’s grandmother, Gail Taylor.
Her family said Womack was with a group of people, people who they believe aren’t speaking up.
Preliminary information to JSO brought officers to the intersection of Trednick Parkway and Monument Road.
JSO said there was no scene at that intersection, but police said somewhere in that area she was picked up by a man and a woman. They dropped Womack off about 15 minutes away at Memorial Hospital.
Police questioned the people who dropped her off.
“We want to know where her stuff is, where she is, where are her friends that were hanging out with her?” said Autumn Redding, Womack’s Cousin. “Any accident, you stay by their side, you follow through. This wasn’t that.”
Police said it’s unclear if the people who dropped her off were Good Samaritans or suspects.
Whoever dropped her off, didn’t give the hospital Womack’s name.
The family got to the hospital between 1 and 2 a.m. They said Womack died around 4 a.m.
“Under the circumstances, it’s no reason we’re providing a name for her after she passes away,” said Redding. “We definitely want to make sure that her life is represented to know that they took somebody special from us, and we’re going to do what we can do to make sure we get justice for her.”
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