On April 15, 2023, 15-year-old Amya Marie Monserrat was fatally shot during a birthday party at Martha’s Boulevard Bar and Grille on Southern Boulevard in Youngstown, Ohio. A dispute between two groups escalated into gunfire and Amya, a freshman and head cheerleader at Valley Christian High School, was struck by a stray bullet. She was taken to Mercy Health, where she died.

Authorities arrested two people after the shooting: a 16-year-old male who was held at the Martin P. Joyce Juvenile Justice Center, and 20-year-old Saun M. Peterson, who faced charges including complicity to murder. In November 2023 Peterson pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and related charges and prosecutors recommended a prison term of 10 to 12½ years. Amya was born December 21, 2007, in Youngstown to Jaismin Morris and Jose’ Monserrat; she worked at her mother’s business Bounce Bounce Palace and enjoyed doing hair, dancing, and spending time with her siblings.

The shooting prompted calls across the community to end violence and sparked tributes in Amya’s memory.