Authorities in Miami have arrested and charged a 24-year-old Atlanta woman after she accidentally shot her teenage sister in the head, an arrest report on the incident stated. The report also revealed the victim is currently on life support “with no expectancy of survival”, Miami Herald reported.
The accused, identified as Taniyria Holt, is currently facing charges including culpable negligence that inflicts personal injury and improper exhibition of firearms. Holt could also possibly face a manslaughter charge if her sister Dre’Naya Ponder dies.
The police said Sunday night’s incident occurred while Holt and Ponder, 18, were in a car that was headed towards Miami Beach. They were in the company of two other women and Holt was sitting at the front passenger side of the vehicle. Prior to the shooting, the four women were recording themselves and Holt was in the possession of a 9mm handgun that belonged to one of the women. Per the arrest report, Holt told the police she “racked the firearm and observed a live round being ejected,” PEOPLE reported.
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“Thinking the firearm was free of live rounds, Ms. Holt said she went to pass the firearm over to her sister, Ms. Ponder (who was sitting behind the driver), but accidentally shot her,” the report stated. “The cellular phone being utilized by Ms. Ponder showed signs of the projectile having penetrated it as said projectile struck Ponder in the facial area, causing her injuries.”
Following the shooting, investigators suggested Ponder could have possibly shot herself, Miami Herald reported. However, the arrest report stated Holt later confessed to accidentally shooting Ponder after waiving her right to remain silent.
Holt is currently being detained without bail at Miami’s Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
