Makiya Alyssa Ja'Nay Ford was 20 when she was shot and killed in her Eastwood Meadows apartment neighborhood in Gainesville, Florida, on June 17, 2021, at about 7:09 p.m. She was a 2020 graduate of Eastside High School and worked as a Warehouse Associate at Nordstrom Warehouse. Witnesses reported she was walking in the neighborhood when the father of her child, 19-year-old Jermaine Torres Williams, approached and pointed a gun at her. According to witness accounts and surveillance footage, Makiya raised her hands in a defensive gesture, swatted at Williams’ arm, then was shot and collapsed.

Deputies arrested Williams at the scene and he was charged with first-degree murder and tampering with evidence. An Alachua County grand jury later indicted him for first-degree murder; the indictment includes witness statements and surveillance corroboration of Makiya’s final moments. Makiya had an active protective injunction against Williams that remained in effect until October 2022. Her death prompted widespread sorrow and outrage in the community.

If anyone knew Makiya or has information about what happened that evening, please share what you know.