‘From This Day On, You’ll Be a Murderer,’ Victim’s Father tells Juvenile Defendant 

By Adriana Marroquin - February 2, 2024
Court | Daily Stories | Homicides | stabbing | Victims |

On Jan. 31, DC Superior Court Judge Andrea Hertzfeld ordered a juvenile homicide defendant remain detained until her twenty-first birthday for her connection to the death of a 16-year-old Maryland girl. 

The juvenile, who is also 16-years-old, was originally charged with first-degree murder while armed, assault with intent to kill, aggravated assault, felony assault and carrying a dangerous weapon for her involvement in the Aug. 27 stabbing of 16-year-old Naima Liggon.

The incident occurred on the 1900 block of 14th Street, NW, and allegedly stemmed from a dispute about McDonald’s sweet and sour sauce. 

On Dec. 4, 2023, the girl accepted a plea offer extended by prosecutors, which required her to plead guilty to voluntary manslaughter while armed and carrying a dangerous weapon, in exchange for a dismissal of all other charges. 

During the sentencing hearing, Liggon’s parents and a friend, who was with her at the time of the stabbing, delivered victim impact statements to the court. 

The friend said Naima was her “closest most genuine friend,” adding that she bled out in her arms. “That night, and many nights after, I couldn’t sleep,” added the juvenile witness. 

“I forgive you… I need to do that for myself,” she said, adding “I wish you peace”.

“Naima is irreplaceable,” began her father, insisting that Naima was trying to deescalate the situation, and the defendant saw it as a “chance to show how tough and gangster” she was. 

“Naima didn’t deserve that,” he insisted, adding “from this day on, you’ll be a murderer.” 

“I have always been her advocate, and now that she doesn’t have a voice, I’ll continue to be the one to fight for her,” cried Naima’s mother as she addressed the court. 

According to Naima’s mom, the day of her death was when her “worst fear came to life,” adding that she had not been aware that Naima had been in the District.

When discussing what she saw at the hospital, where Naima died, she said “a part of me died on that [operating] table with her.” 

She went on to argue that she didn’t understand why “her killer was protected because she was a juvenile,” adding that various people had sent her screenshots of social media posts made by the defendant that displayed Naima’s blood on the street with taunting captions. 

“How could she have been killed over sweet and sour sauce?” asked the mother. 

She deemed the offense a “senseless crime,” adding that she didn’t understand what motivated the defendant to act in such a way. 

“You took a life from us,” she said, adding that she left them with “memories of a life that should have been.” 

“I forgive you for taking one of the most important lives in my life… I pray for your soul and your family,” Naima’s mom said. However, she added, “You took a life in cold blood” and insisted she is getting a “slap in the wrist” for what the defendant did.

“You did the crime and you deserve to do the time,” she proclaimed. 

Following the victim impact statements, prosecutors played a video created by the family, which displayed Naima throughout her childhood. “Naima, may you rest in peace, power, and paradise,” said the video. 

In their arguments, prosecutors requested Judge Hertzfeld sentence the defendant to restricted commitment until the age of 21, arguing that she “presents as an individual in dire need of care and rehabilitation.” 

They insisted the incident was “the result of mere words,” when the defendant was denied additional sweet and sour sauce, as the vehicle was parked right outside the McDonald’s on U Street. 

“She knew exactly what she was going to do, and who she was doing it to,” stated prosecutors. During an interview with Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) detectives, which was shown in open court, the defendant told the detective, “That’s when I got her,” as they watched the surveillance footage of the incident. 

According to prosecutors, as Naima received treatment at the hospital, one of the eyewitnesses messaged the defendant saying “She could’ve died,” adding “you did all of that over some sauce. Y’all were friends.” The defendant replied, “They tried to jump me, idgaf [I don’t give a f**k],” with three laughing crying emojis. 

Prosecutors claim that the defendant presents herself to people as “petite, child-like, incapable of committing a murder,” but insisted that the “actions of the real [defendant]” were shown on the day of the incident. 

Once arrested, prosecutors said, the defendant fought another girl at the Youth Services Center (YSC) in the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) because she was discussing the defendant’s case with others. 

“All of this is over mere words,” they insisted. 

However, the defendant’s defense attorney asserted that, in court, she is seen through a “tainted lens,” adding that she should be put on a year of probation because “each child is unique, and punishment is not the goal.” 

According to the defense, the defendant began carrying a knife to protect herself due to various incidents that occurred in the month leading up to Naima’s death. The attorney said that, on the day of the incident, the juvenile was merely trying to get comfort from friends after what she had experienced. 

The attorney also insisted that the defendant believed she was acting in self-defense because the verbal disagreement led to a physical altercation between Naima and the defendant. 

The defense argued that she is “incredibly remorseful,” and stated that she would do best if she was sent home to do homeschooling and get support from her family. 

“I’m sorry to the family and friends, and to the ones that were impacted,” said the defendant in a letter read to the court. “I hope one day you’ll forgive me,” she stated, adding that she thinks of her memories with Naima, whom she knew since middle school, often.

Judge Hertzfeld deemed the offense a “truly vicious murder,” questioning if “this was really over sweet and sour sauce?” Judge Hertzfeld added that it was troubling to know that the defendant knew she didn’t get Naima the first blow. “I keep thinking, how can that be?” Judge Hertzfeld said. 

“No matter the sentence, [the defendant] will get another chance at life, but Naima won’t. That’s part of the tragedy,” said Judge Hertzfeld. 

Judge Hertzfeld agreed with the prosecution, DYRS, and the defendant’s probation officer’s recommendation to hold her in restricted commitment until the age of 21. 

Parties are slated to return March 8, to check in and make sure DYRS has placed the defendant at a holding facility that has all the resources she will need.