TikTok video captures 16-year-old girl startled by someone entering hotel room moments before she was shot dead
A TikTok video has apparently captured the final moments of a 16-year-old girl who was shot dead inside an Atlanta hotel room last month. According to the Daily Mail, Kalecia Williams was shot dead at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta on Peachtree Street at around 12.27 am on December 26.
Williams is reportedly seen in the video dancing, before appearing startled that someone entered the room. The video abruptly ends as Williams turns toward the door, per the newspaper.
April Smith, her mother, led a protest for justice with more than 20 people outside the Regency on Wednesday. Speaking to Fox 5, the devastated parent said the video was made around 12.02 am. "What happened after she made that last Tik Tok video at 12.02 am and she was dead at 12.23 am? I need answers," Smith said to the outlet.
A male suspect, also 16, was arrested in connection with the shooting. Officers from the Atlanta Police Department charged the alleged killer -- who cannot be named for legal reasons -- with felony murder, aggravated assault, reckless conduct, and possession of a pistol for a person under the age of 18, per the Daily Mail.
However, Smith believes others should be charged in the case as well. She told Fox 5 that her daughter was supposed to go to a chaperoned holiday party at an Airbnb, but she found out another parent had paid for their stay at the Hyatt Regency only after she was informed of her daughter's death.
"She was responsible for getting the hotel room for these minors. Her name was on the hotel room for these minors, so I feel like she should be held accountable for my daughter's death as well," Smith told the outlet.
“As a parent, you’re supposed to pick up the phone and call that parent.”
— Alex Whittler (@AlexWhittler) December 31, 2020
Family of Kalecia Williams, the 16-year-old girl who was shot & killed at the Hyatt Regency Saturday, say others, not just the shooter, should be held responsible for her death. Story on @FOX5Atlanta pic.twitter.com/9CdkvaDyA6
While it is unclear what exactly happened that night, a woman who was staying at the hotel, reportedly connected with the family, told them what she witnessed during the incident.
"They were shouting what hotel we at what hotel, she was panicking," witness Kanautica Starkie told the news station. "I seen two guys coming out the elevator with a little girl holding her. One had one leg, one had the other and they were saying she had been shot."
Starkie recalled that she was holding Williams' hand while they waited for first responders to arrive at the scene. She even recorded a video of EMTs trying to resuscitate the teenager, but this only made the victim's family more suspicious.
"The young girl said they moved my daughter's body because of the blood, but when we look at the video from the woman from South Carolina there was no blood, so we want to know the reason why you took her from the floor to the lobby," Ronney Savoy, Williams' stepfather said.
The teen was found to be suffering from an apparent gunshot wound to the groin area when officers from the Atlanta Police Department arrived at the hotel. Police noted she was not conscious or breathing and was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The suspect was later arrested and booked into the Metro Youth Detention Center. According to investigators, the shooting took place following an argument the teenage girl had with a young male in one of the rooms.
"Preliminary investigation suggests that the victim was inside of a room at the Hyatt Regency with a juvenile male companion," Police spokesman Anthony Grant told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "A verbal dispute occurred between both parties which resulted in the juvenile male fatally shooting the victim."
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Hyatt Regency hotel said in a statement: "We are saddened by the isolated situation that occurred at Hyatt Regency Atlanta early this morning, and our thoughts go out to those who have been affected. The hotel is fully cooperating with local authorities with their investigation, and further questions may be directed to the Atlanta Police Department."
Police are urging anyone who may have witnessed anything or may have related information to come forward as Kalecia Williams' family tries to piece everything together and move forward.