Girl, 16, stabbed to death during fight over McDonald's sweet and sour sauce

29 August 2023 , 09:33

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16-year-old Naima Liggon was stabbed to death outside a McDonald's in Washington DC (Image: Naima Liggon)

A 16-year-old girl has been stabbed to death during fight over McDonald's sweet and sour sauce.

Naima Liggon, from Waldorf in Baltimore, died after being stabbed with a pocket knife outside the fast food restaurant in Washington DC, authorities said. According to testimony by Detective Brendan Jasper at a court hearing, the fatal stabbing stemmed from a dispute over a condiment.

Naima and another girl began hitting a 16-year-old suspect, who then stabbed Naima in the chest and abdomen with a 7.5 inch pocketknife as the victims tried to get into a vehicle.

Naima was rushed to hospital in the early hours of Sunday morning, but later died of her injuries

The unnamed suspect claimed she was knocked down by Naima and another person during the altercation. She was initially charged with second-degree murder while armed but argued the stabbing was in self-defense.

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Family described Naima as a beautiful, smart, funny, and unique young girl who loved life (Naima Liggon)

In a statement from her family said: "Naima was a beautiful, smart, funny, and unique young lady who loved life. She was loved and admired by so many people. Naima loved music and the arts, basketball, and she was shaping up to be a master barber.

"Naima will never see her prom or her graduation. We will not get to see her graduate from college or get married or have kids."

Judge Sherri Beatty-Arthur, who ordered the suspect held until Friday, said: "At the end of the day, someone is dead over a dispute over sauce."

She had just been hired to work at Krispy Kreme as a doughnut specialist and was preparing to get her drivers license. Naima was a student at Thomas Stone High School in Waldorf, Maryland.

The stabbing occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning at the McDonald's (NBC)

Her principal, Shanif Pearl, said: "This is a heartbreaking and tragic time for our school community. This is not the news a principal ever wants to share, let alone the day before we start a new school year."

One neighbor told Wusa9: "She was a beautiful young girl. Beautiful. Very intelligent young girl. My sons only friend here, so he is impacted by this. I imagine all of the rest of the kids in the neighborhood are as well."

The stabbing reflects an alarming trend of violence among minors in Washington D.C. Naima was the 13th teenager murdered in the city this year, often by other youths. Officials have instituted curfews for minors under 16 in parts of the city in response.

Lucy Williamson