Did A Social Media Dispute Really Leave One Girl Dead and Another in Handcuffs?

When the other high school seniors at Metropolitan Soundview High School in the Bronx left classes Thursday, most were planning their prom outfits or graduation celebrations for next month. However, in a crowd of witnesses, Emery Mizell’s chance to do that was snatched away from her after she was brutally stabbed by one of her peers.

The New York Police Department said the 17-year-old was two blocks away from the building when she was struck in the chest with an “unknown cutting instrument.” Police say the stabbing allegedly followed a fight outside as nearly a dozen teens watched. After being transported to Jacobi Medical Center, she was pronounced dead.

Police say the prime suspect in her killing was one of her peers, a 15-year-old girl. Mizell’s family told The New York Post the girl attended James Monroe High School with Mizell but weren’t sure how close of friends the two were. She’s been charged with murder, manslaughter and unlawful possession of a weapon.

Just like that, Mizell’s future was gone. Now, police are wondering what the motive was to do something so horrid. So far, their attention has turned to a social media dispute.

Read more from The New York Post:

According to police, Emery and her alleged killer were involved in an ongoing dispute. The victim had been bombarded with harassment on social media prior to the slaying, police sources said. Latanya Mizell, Emery’s second cousin, said she wasn’t aware of the apparent social media bullying, but said that, if true, it would only add to the tragedy.

“These are kids, both of them. They both lost their lives. That right there is hurtful enough as a whole because we got to be better with our kids,” said Latanya.

“They shouldn’t be fighting because somebody said this about that person. It’s stupid stuff. It’s not worth taking somebody’s life,” Latanya said, adding that despite the suspect being a child, she wants to see the teen be prosecuted.

There are no details offered yet on what the social media beef was about but one thing is certain: no cyber-smoke is worth a life. The senseless killing broke the hearts of every one of Mizell’s family who gathered outside her home on Boyton Avenue for a vigil. The teen was remembered for being caring, smart and loving to dance and rap.

The police said they’ve pulled surveillance video of the incident and are reviewing it.