This story has been updated to reflect new information from an ongoing investigation.
The 16-year-old girl who was shot and killed at a Southwest Archer Road neighborhood June 5 has been identified.
Zhane Sanders of Charlotte, North Carolina, visited Florida to attend a graduation ceremony in Marion County, Alachua County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Art Forgey said.
ACSO deputies responded to the shooting at Palms of Archer, a mobile home community located at 7117 SW Archer Road about three miles south of Butler Town Center near the Publix at Tower Square, at around 2 a.m.
Sanders was taken to the hospital by EMS and eventually died as a result of her injuries, according to an ACSO Facebook post.
Cedric McCloud, the community manager at Palms of Archer, declined to comment.
Kenneth Burke, a 65-year-old who lived in Palms of Archer for eight years, said he was unaware of the incident until he saw two detectives walking around the neighborhood with notepads Monday.
Burke knew of issues like drug deals and vandalism in the neighborhood. He said his son-in-law’s car was stolen about a year ago. He proposed a volunteer patrol to help mitigate the neighborhood’s problems.
ACSO is asking anyone who has information about the shooting to contact 352-367-4176. For anonymity, contact Crime Stoppers at 352-372-7867.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Contact Omar at oateyah@alligator.org. Follow him on Twitter @OAteyah.
Omar Ateyah is a third-year journalism student and the Alligator's Race and Equity reporter. He previously served as the Alligator's crime reporter and as a news assistant on the Metro Desk. He enjoys going on long, thoughtful walks.
