LAKE CITY, Fla. — Months after a 12-year-old girl was shot and killed while sitting in her Lake City home, the City Council is renaming the street where the tragedy happened in her honor.
Mariah Smith, 12, was killed in August after bullets came flying through her home, striking her while she was sitting on the couch. Two teenage boys were later arrested for her murder.
The Lake City Council unanimously approved the resolution dedicating Long Street, where the shooting occurred, to be renamed Mariah Reginae Smith Forever 12 Memorial Street.
"The dedication is not merely symbolic; it is a call to action for our community to unite against senseless violence and work toward a safer future for our children," wrote Dee Johnson, the interim city manager of Lake City, in a press release.
On Aug. 24, officers responded to NW Long Street and found Smith suffering from a gunshot wound. She was administered aid on the scene but ultimately died from her injuries.
Four days after Smith was killed, Lake City police arrested 14-year-old Jatarious Flullen II in connection with her murder.
Over a month after that, police in Miami arrested 15-year-old Jayden Burch for Smith's murder. Investigators said after processing evidence and conducting interviews, they found probable cause to arrest Burch.
The Lake City street is no stranger to gun violence.
Just last month, a 19-year-old was found shot on NW Long Street after officers responded to gunshots fired in the area that were picked up by a gunshot detection system. The teen was taken to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.
The city says it hopes Smith's memorial tribute will serve as a painful reminder of the need to address gun violence in the community.
"The dedication of the Mariah Reginae Smith Forever 12 Memorial Street is a solemn commitment to remember Mariah and all the victims of gun violence," Interim City Manager Dee Johnson said. "It is our hope this memorial will spark conversations, inspire, change, and serve as a beacon of remembrance for years to come."
A ceremony debuting the new memorial is set for Monday, Dec. 18, at 5 p.m. It will include remarks from a member of Smith's family, city officials and the family clergy.