Tonika Turner, a 38-year-old mother of three from Tampa, Florida, died on February 21, 2023, due to gun violence. She was found with upper body trauma in a neighborhood near US-41 and East Fletcher Avenue in the early morning hours. Despite medical efforts, Turner later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
The incident occurred when a single shot was fired from a music studio hangout room, which traveled through a wall and struck Turner in her bathroom.
At the time of the shooting, Turner was alone in her room. The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office conducted a thorough investigation, involving detectives and CSI units, which led to the identification of a suspect.
The suspect, 27-year-old Kiante Henley, was charged with manslaughter with a weapon and for being a felon in possession of a firearm. Henley turned himself in 11 days after the incident and was subsequently released on bond after his first court appearance. The defense attorney for Henley has questioned the credibility of the witness who identified Henley as the shooter and suggested that another man in the music studio was waving the gun around, and Henley's client was trying to get the gun out of his hands when the fatal shot was fired.
Turner's family, who described her as the oldest of 10 siblings and known by many as "Lady Cash," is still grieving and seeking justice. They expressed their distress over Henley's release on bond and are advocating for the maximum sentence. The family's focus now is on supporting and loving Turner's children, ensuring they have the best possible future despite the loss of their mother.
