Layla Danielle Silvernail was a 16-year-old White female who loved the game of softball. Described as the definition of a team player and an amazing athlete, she was a great pitcher who could play any position her team needed and always uplifted her teammates. She had previously attended Lake Weir High School before being homeschooled.
On the evening of March 30, 2023, deputies responded to a call in Ocklawaha, Florida, and found Layla lying injured on the side of Southeast 183rd Avenue
Road near Forest Lakes Park. She had a gunshot wound to the head and was transported to a local hospital in critical condition. Layla remained on life support until she was pronounced deceased on April 4, 2023. In the wake of the tragedy, her family chose to donate her organs so she could help others.
The investigation soon revealed two other victims. The morning after Layla was found, on March 31, a 17-year-old boy was discovered deceased from a gunshot wound on the side of a road a few miles away. His name was withheld at his family’s request under Marsy’s Law. On April 1, authorities found Layla’s 2015 Chevrolet Cruze partially submerged in a pond near Malauka Loop Trace. Inside the trunk was the body of 16-year-old Camille Quarles, who had also been shot to death.
Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods confirmed that the three teenagers were friends and had been together in Layla's car before the incident. Investigators stated the killings were connected to what the sheriff described as "hybrid gangs" or "wannabe gangs," though it was not specified if the victims were involved in any gang activity. Family and friends of the three victims gathered for a memorial at Carney Island Boat Ramp to honor their lives.
The investigation led to the arrests of three juvenile suspects. Robert Le’Andrew Robinson, 17, and Christopher De’l Atkins, 12, were taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder. The third suspect, 16-year-old Tahj Brewton, was apprehended shortly thereafter. He was also charged with first-degree murder in connection with the triple homicide.
As of April 2023, all three suspects were in custody facing litigation for the murders.
