A 16-year-old teenager faces a second-degree murder charge after she stabbed another 16-year-old outside of a McDonald’s in Washington, D.C., police say.
According to Metro Police, officers were called to the scene to respond to reports of a stabbing. Upon arrival, police found that Naima Liggon was stabbed multiple times and succumbed to her injuries at a local hospital.
Authorities say the dispute was over sweet and sour sauce. Several outlets, including The Washington Post, NBC Washington and WTOP were first to report the incident, which occurred on the 1900 block of 14th Street, Northwest. Following the stabbing, Liggon was rushed to a hospital in a privately-owned vehicle.
The suspect, who has not been identified at the time of this writing, is a female, 16, from Waldorf, Maryland. She was found in possession of the knife used in the fatal stabbing and has been charged with second-degree murder.
“At a D.C. Superior Court hearing Monday, Detective Brendan Jasper testified that the fatal stabbing of Liggon originated from a dispute over sweet-and-sour sauce among three girls outside of the restaurant,” reads a People report per The Washington Post. “Jasper added in his testimony that Liggon and another girl began assaulting the 16-year-old girl — who, based on surveillance footage, didn’t appear to fight back at first.”
The report continues: “As Liggon and the other girl were about to get into a vehicle, Jasper claimed, the 16-year-old girl approached Liggon with a 7.5-inch pocketknife, stabbing her in the abdomen and chest, The Washington Post reported.”
Other reports state Liggon was part of a group of people who drove to a party at 15th Street Northwest in D.C. from Oxon Hill, Maryland. After the party, they all went to McDonald’s.
The suspect’s attorney says their client acted in self-defense and has no prior criminal history.
The suspect has been held in jail until a hearing Friday.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Sherri Beatty-Arthur will preside over the case.
“At the end of the day, someone is dead over a dispute over sauce,” Judge Beatty-Arthur said.
Meanwhile, the victim’s mother has come out to condemn the fatal stabbing, which cost her daughter her life.
“I can’t understand how any type of a fight, whether it’s over sweet-and-sour sauce or any other topic, could result in a murder,” Joy Liggon told WTOP. “Naima was beautiful, smart … she was funny, unique. She loves life.”
