In the early morning hours of March 29, 2017, the sound of gunfire echoed through the Mosby Court neighborhood in Richmond, Virginia. When the shots ceased, 16-year-old Mikkaisha D. Smoot, a Black female, and 15-year-old Taliek K. Brown were found with life-threatening gunshot wounds. A third individual, an adult woman, was also struck by a bullet while she was taking out her trash; her injuries were not considered life-threatening.
The two teenagers were rushed to VCU Medical Center and placed on life support.
Tragically, Mikkaisha was pronounced dead on March 31, 2017, after being removed from life support. Her friend, Taliek, had succumbed to his injuries the previous day. The investigation into the triple shooting revealed that the two teenagers were not the intended targets of the gunfire. The incident shook the community, leaving friends and family to mourn the senseless loss of two young lives.
In the years that have followed, the investigation into the murders of Mikkaisha Smoot and Taliek Brown has remained ongoing. Despite appeals from the Richmond Police Department to the community for any information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of those responsible, no arrests have been made in the case. The homicides of the two high school students remain unsolved, leaving their families and the community still searching for justice and closure. The authorities have encouraged anyone with information to contact the Richmond Police Department or Crime Stoppers.
