by MINNEAPOLIS — A woman who drove her SUV into a crowd in downtown Minneapolis, killing a teenage girl and injuring five others, has pleaded guilty to serious charges stemming from the September 2024 incident.
On Tuesday, prosecutors announced that Latalia Anjolie Margalli pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree unintentional murder and five counts of second-degree assault. The violent episode occurred on the night of September 14, 2024, near 5th and Hennepin in the city’s downtown district.
According to the criminal complaint, Margalli was with friends when she spotted a man she recognized and began arguing with him. The confrontation caught the attention of a nearby group, including 16-year-old De’Miaya Broome, who tried to defuse the situation and urged Margalli to leave the man alone.
A witness close to Margalli told investigators the argument quickly escalated into a physical fight. After someone sprayed mace, Margalli and her companions returned to their vehicle. But the situation reignited moments later when others in the group began mocking them. In response, Margalli got into her SUV—and drove directly into the crowd.
De’Miaya was critically injured and later died at the hospital. Five others sustained injuries ranging from broken bones to head trauma.
For De’Miaya’s parents, Andrea and Juan Broome, the pain of losing their daughter is compounded by the prosecution’s decision to avoid a trial.
“We begged them. We literally cried on the phone, pleading, ‘Please, go to trial,’” Juan said.
“My daughter didn’t have a chance. She didn’t even see it coming.”
Described as warm, kind, and full of ambition, De’Miaya had dreams of becoming a nurse. Her family insists she was simply spending time with friends that evening—and doing nothing wrong.
“Her life meant more than whether she should’ve been downtown that night,” Juan added.
“She deserved more than what’s being done right now.”
The Broome family’s heartache resonates far beyond Minneapolis. Families from as far away as Wyoming, many who’ve followed the case closely through social media and national news, have expressed outrage over the decision not to pursue a full trial. The case has sparked deeper conversations nationwide—Wyoming included—about justice for victims and accountability in violent crimes.
“De’Miaya dreamt of helping others,” said Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty in a statement.
“Her death is a profound loss to her family and the community. This guilty plea holds Ms. Margalli accountable and paves the way for a lengthy sentence that protects the public.”
Margalli is set to be sentenced on June 24, with prosecutors seeking 285 months—just under 24 years—in prison for the murder charge alone.
