On May 24, 2023, in Jacksonville, Florida, a video recording session took an unexpected turn, resulting in the loss of a young woman’s life. Aniyah Womack, 19, and Mariah Clayton, 20, were creating TikTok content. In the process, they utilized a rifle as a prop for their video.
Witnesses recall that the two were in a bathroom at the time of the incident. Clayton came out of the shower with the firearm in hand, and Womack was responsible for filming. Another man, who was at the scene, tried to caution them about using the weapon and reached out to take it from Clayton. In the commotion, the rifle went off, hitting Womack in the abdomen.
In the aftermath of the accident, Womack was dropped off alone at a nearby hospital anonymously. However, by 4 a.m., she was pronounced dead due to the injuries she sustained. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation into the incident, focusing on Clayton.
Clayton initially presented a different version of the events, suggesting she had found Womack injured on the roadside and took her to the hospital. This account was contradicted by the individual who drove Womack to the hospital, stating he had been to the apartment before the incident and was later called for help.
Following a lead from the community group Mad Dads, Clayton was apprehended on October 6. She is currently detained with a bond set at $250,000. The primary charges against her revolve around the allegations of improperly handling the firearm, leading to Womack’s death. She now faces manslaughter charges.
