On August 29, 2023, a tragic drive-by shooting occurred in the 1100 block of Poppy Avenue in the Carver Shores neighborhood of Orlando, Florida. The victims included 6-year-old Ajahliyah Hashim and 19-year-old Isaiyah Wright. Ajahliyah and her mother were inside their home when the shooting happened, and both were hit by gunfire. Ajahliyah suffered critical injuries, including a gunshot wound to the head, and was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, where she later died on September 1, 2023.
The shooting was reported just after 8 p.m. and was described as a drive-by incident involving multiple suspects. The mother of Ajahliyah was also shot and sustained non-life-threatening injuries to both legs. She was taken to Orlando Health for treatment. Isaiyah Wright, who was not in the house but was dropped off at Health Central in Ocoee, was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation revealed that the shooting was a result of a gang dispute between the 438 gang and the Carver Shores boys, which escalated from arguments on social media. The shooters mistakenly targeted the wrong house, leading to the tragic deaths of Ajahliyah and Isaiyah.
Several suspects have been arrested in connection with the shooting. Nico Brown, 15, was the first to be arrested and is being charged as an adult with two counts of second-degree murder, among other charges. Other suspects include Kny Adams and Brandon James Pickett, both 17, and Ricky Raymond Bowery Jr., 18. A fifth suspect, Tyrik Omari Nichols, 21, was arrested in Arvada, Colorado, after a warrant was issued for his arrest. All five suspects face charges of first-degree homicide.
The investigation and subsequent arrests involved the Orlando Police Department, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and the Arvada Police Department. The case has been marked by its tragic circumstances and the involvement of minors in the violent crime. Grief counselors were provided to students and staff at Eagle’s Nest Elementary School, where Ajahliyah was a student, to help cope with the loss.
