Two women were arrested on Friday in connection with the murder of a photographer that was partially livestreamed on social media, police in Florida said.
Lakevia Davonna Pringle, 31, and Savon Chantay Tyler, 35, were taken into custody and charged in the death of Lauren Ashley Martin, a photographer who was shot and killed Tuesday night outside of a home in Sanford following an argument.
Sanford police said there had been an ongoing feud between Martin and Tyler. On the night of the shooting, Martin allegedly livestreamed herself driving to Tyler’s home to confront her, according to an amended arrest report for Tyler.
Tyler told investigators, according to the report, that she saw Martin’s livestream and exited her home carrying a child’s baseball bat and a firearm. She set the gun to the side before Martin pulled up to Tyler’s home, the report says.
Tyler said that during the fight, she hit Martin with the bat and Martin allegedly grabbed it and took it away from her, according to the arrest report. Martin then allegedly approached Tyler with the bat, it says. Tyler said she grabbed her gun and fired two shots at Martin.
Martin, 34, was found lying in the road suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to the hospital, where she died, police said.
Martin’s family told NBC affiliate WESH of Daytona Beach that she was a photographer and there had been a disagreement about photos Martin took of Tyler.
“A family is mourning the loss of a loved one, because someone chose to resolve a disagreement with violence,” Sanford Police Chief Cecil Smith said in a statement. “What started the argument between these two won’t be remembered, but the loss of Lauren will forever be with her family and friends. There are choices other than violence.”
Pringle, Tyler’s girlfriend, allegedly livestreamed the fight on social media. Police said Tyler is seen in the footage swinging the bat at Martin. The video becomes darker due to lighting conditions outside, but the audio remains clear.
Police said Pringle is heard in the video “enticing” Tyler to “beat” Martin and to “fire her a-- up,” according to the arrest report. One gunshot is heard in the video, followed by a second.
Tyler was taken into custody without incident and charged with one count of first-degree premeditated homicide. She pleaded not guilty, court documents state. Her attorney could not immediately be reached for comment on Saturday.
Pringle turned herself in on Friday and was charged with principal in the first degree to first-degree premeditated homicide, police said. It’s not clear if she has obtained an attorney or entered a plea.
