LAKE CITY, Fla. – A Lake City street was renamed to remember the life of a 12-year-old girl who was shot and killed while she was sitting on a couch at he grandmother’s house in August.
The Lake City Council designated the street formerly known as Long Street to Mariah Reginae Smith Forever 12 Memorial Street in her memory.
Councilwoman Chevella Young said the sign will be a remembrance for people in the community.
“When people come by it will always remind them that this is Mariah, this is what happened to her. Then it will begin to cause people to share the story and hopefully, it will go on for years and years to come,” Young said.
Smith’s mother, Todneisha Filer, said having a street named after her daughter feels good.
“It’s a good feeling. It’s more so of getting the combat and stuff in the gun battle, making sure this doesn’t happen to any other family. If we can help get these young kids off the streets and get them away from guns. I’m all for it,” Filer said.
Two teenagers have been arrested in connection to Mariah’s death.
Ivyana Smith, Mariah’s cousin, says she hopes this is an eye-opener for the gun violence to stop.
“I just need everybody to stop the gun violence so we can stop losing little kids, older people. I want people to die from natural causes not from someone killing them, somebody stabbing them. I just want the gun violence to stop,” Smith said.
For Young, she also hopes this will curb gun violence.
“Well, we of course I’m sure everyone knows were at the top of the charts with murder. Hopefully, this will be a start to at least decrease it,” Young said. “It may not stop it but hopefully this will be a sign literally a sign and a sign people will take to heart what has really happened, and it will not happen to a child nor an adult.”
The Lake City Police Department is still working to identify and arrest everyone involved.