On February 23, 2023, 14-year-old Brianna Thornhill was shot and killed inside her family home in the Mirage at Sailboat community in Opa-Locka, Florida. The shooting occurred in the early morning hours; Miami-Dade Fire Rescue pronounced her dead at 12:27 a.m. Her mother says the gun belonged to a visiting family member, 19-year-old Keon Martavious Thornhill, who initially told different versions of what happened before admitting to police that he pulled the trigger and repeatedly saying it was a mistake.

At the time of the shooting the mother was at work and six other siblings, ages 9 to 12, were in the home. After the shooting Keon Thornhill ran to nearby houses for help and knocked on the door of an off-duty Opa-Locka police officer, who responded and located Brianna with an apparent gunshot wound. Thornhill was arrested and booked on a charge of second-degree murder with a weapon.

Brianna’s mother described her as very respectful and a sweet girl. Who in the community may have seen activity at the Mirage at Sailboat complex that night or can provide information about how the firearm was being handled?