Tragic incident unfolded in Jacksonville, Florida, when a 19-year-old woman lost her life due to a fatal shooting while filming a TikTok video. Mariah Clayton, 20, has been charged with manslaughter in connection to the shooting of Aniyah Womack, as reported by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
According to the arrest report, the shooting occurred as Mariah Clayton was filming a TikTok video. Clayton was allegedly holding a rifle when the weapon discharged, fatally striking 19-year-old Aniyah Womack in the abdomen. Despite efforts to save her, Womack succumbed to her injuries at Memorial Hospital on University Boulevard in Jacksonville on May 24.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office stated that Womack’s death resulted from Clayton’s negligent handling of the rifle while attempting to film TikTok videos. The arrest report revealed that Clayton had been repeatedly warned by friends against “playing with the rifle.”
The incident took place at an apartment in the Regency area of Jacksonville, with several witnesses present. Although Clayton claimed she was not holding the rifle at the time of the shooting, witnesses provided conflicting accounts.
One witness reported seeing Clayton holding an all-black rifle and advising her against playing with it. Despite the warning, Clayton continued to handle the rifle, even acting out a scene with it, while Womack filmed the videos.
The circumstances surrounding how the rifle discharged varied among witnesses. One witness stated that Clayton was holding the rifle when another person attempted to check the safety, causing the weapon to discharge. Another witness claimed that the rifle discharged as Clayton was putting it down.
Clayton initially told the police that one of the witnesses had grabbed the gun, causing it to discharge. However, this claim was later proven false by the authorities.
Following their investigation, the police arrested Clayton on manslaughter charges, determining that her negligence had resulted in Womack’s tragic death. Clayton’s bond has been set at $250,000.
The devastating consequences of a moment of negligence have left a family mourning the loss of their loved one. The tragedy serves as a reminder of the importance of firearm safety and responsible behavior, especially when handling weapons. Aniyah Womack’s untimely death is a sobering reminder of the risks involved in careless actions.