LAKE CITY, Fla. — For the first time, Lake City unveiled a new street name, dedicated to a victim of gun violence.
12-year-old Mariah Smith was shot and killed in August while sitting on the couch in her home on Long Street. Two teenage boys were arrested for her murder. Police say they shot into the home. Now, the street she lived on is named the 'Mariah Reginae Smith Forever 12 Memorial Street.'
"This is history. This is the first time in history Lake City has ever done anything like this," Smith's mother Todneisha Filer said. "No other family should have to go through what I'm going through and I'm praying that we can stop the gun violence."
The Lake City Council unanimously approved designating Long Street as the Mariah Reginae Smith Forever 12 Memorial Street. The City says the dedication aims to celebrate Mariah's Spirit and advocates for a future free from gun violence.
"There's been three homicides in this general area within the past year. A 12-year-old here, 19-year-old down at the end of the street, and an early 20-year-old less than two blocks from here," Former city councilmember Glenel Bowden said. "It could happen to anybody."
Former City Councilmember Glenel Bowden says he wants to see change.
"We've got to invest in our community and our young people, have more programs available for school programs, something for kids to do after school and even over the weekend. Most of the issues take place at night and so we need something for people to be doing," Bowden said.
Hundreds who knew Smith filled Long Street for the dedication ceremony Monday night. It started as an emotional gathering for family and friends but turned into a celebration of life full of music, dancing, and singing. Filer says Mariah loved TikTok and dancing.
"We act like she's still here. She has not missed anything ever. Wherever, we go, she goes," Filer said. "Put them guns down. It's not worth losing your life, taking someone else's life and then you have to pay for it. Put them guns down."