A Minneapolis woman has been sentenced following her involvement in a tragic incident where she drove into a crowd, resulting in the death of a 16-year-old girl and injuries to several others.
Latalia Margalli, 23, faces serious charges including one count of second-degree murder with intent and five counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon, stemming from her alleged involvement in a fatal hit-and-run incident that occurred in downtown Minneapolis on September 14, 2024.
In May, she pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree unintentional murder along with five counts of second-degree assault.
A Hennepin County judge has issued a sentence of 285 months (23.75 years), granting credit for 284 days already served, for the second-degree murder conviction, along with consecutive sentences for the assault charges.
“My thoughts are with De’Miaya’s family, and all others impacted by this tragic incident,” Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement. “Ms. Margalli chose to drive into the crowd, taking De’Miaya’s life and irreparably harming so many people. This sentence holds Ms. Margalli accountable and protects our community.”
On the morning of September 14, a crash occurred near the intersection of 5th Street North and Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis.
Allegations have surfaced that Margalli and her companions engaged in a confrontation with the 16-year-old victim and her peers, escalating into a physical altercation. In a surprising turn of events, Margalli reportedly re-entered her SUV and began to reverse, inadvertently striking another individual with the car door.
As the victim struggled on the ground with an assailant, Margalli allegedly veered onto 5th Street, careening into a gathering of individuals without slowing down, colliding with several people, including the victim, according to the complaint.
After the incident, Margalli attempted to escape but was pursued by a witness, leading to her eventual apprehension by authorities.
16-year-old De’Miaya Broome succumbed to her injuries in the hospital after the incident. In addition to the fatalities, five individuals sustained injuries, comprising two 14-year-old girls, a 24-year-old man, a 28-year-old man, and a 29-year-old woman. According to court records, the injuries sustained varied from bruises to broken legs, along with a head injury.
