Background: News footage of the scene in Pace, Fla., where Danika Troy”s body was found (WEAR). Insets (left to right): Gabriel Williams, Kimahri Blevins, and Danika Troy (Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office).
In a chilling case from Florida, two teenagers have been accused of a heinous crime involving the murder of a 14-year-old girl. Authorities have charged Gabriel Williams, 16, and Kimahri Blevins, 14, with first-degree premeditated murder after they allegedly lured Danika Troy to a wooded area, fatally shot her, and then set her body on fire. This tragic incident has left a community in shock and raises concerns about youth violence and online interactions.
The events unfolded during the Thanksgiving break when, according to a witness statement, a social media dispute led to the teens’ deadly plan. The witness reported that Blevins and Williams were motivated to kill Troy following a perceived insult and social media slight—Troy had reportedly insulted Williams online and blocked Blevins’ account, which escalated to their sinister plot.
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office details that Troy was last seen by her mother on Sunday night at 10 p.m. Concern grew when her mother discovered Troy and her electric scooter missing the following morning. By Tuesday, a passerby stumbled upon a crime scene that revealed the grim truth. In the woods of Pace, Florida, police found charred remains, evidence of a fire, and scattered ammunition rounds. A shoe matching one that Troy was wearing was also discovered, along with a scooter believed to be hers.
Authorities confirmed on Wednesday that the remains were indeed Troy’s. An investigation led to the arrest of Williams and Blevins after an unnamed witness came forward. This witness recounted that Blevins allegedly admitted to planning the murder with Williams, initially intending to shoot Troy once. However, the situation escalated, and both teenagers proceeded to burn her body after the fatal shooting.
This shocking case highlights the darker reaches of social media conflicts and the extreme actions they can provoke among youths. It serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing online interactions and the potential for real-world consequences. The community now grapples with the loss of a young life and the serious charges facing two other teenagers.
Police also found what they believed was Troy’s electronic scooter. On Wednesday, investigators identified the remains as Troy’s. During the police investigation, an unnamed witness reported that Blevins allegedly said that he and Williams “planned the murder of Danika.” Blevins allegedly told the witness that “the initial plan was to shoot Danika once,” but that Williams allegedly took things further. Both boys burned Troy’s body after shooting her dead, police said.
After speaking to the witness, detectives went to Blevins’ home, where his mother allowed them to talk with her teenage son. Detectives sat Blevins in the back of their unmarked car, where they read him his Miranda rights, and he told them that the last time he had any contact with Troy was during their Thanksgiving weekend break. Blevins allegedly said that he and Troy “had a falling out and he blocked her on social media.” When detectives asked about what happened in the woods, Blevins requested an attorney.
When detectives spoke to Blevins’ mother, she told them that she caught her son “sneaking” back into the house at around 11 p.m. on Sunday. When she asked her son what he was doing, he allegedly told her he was smoking a cigarette, but she did not smell any smoke on him.
Police arrested Blevins and went to question Williams. At the police station, Williams told detectives that Troy made “hurtful comments” to him, calling him “worthless and a gang-banger.” Williams was also placed under arrest.
During a press conference, Santa Rosa County Sheriff Bob Johnson said, “The motive that we’re getting doesn’t fit the forensics or any facts of the case.” Johnson also stated during the press conference that Williams “stole his mother’s handgun and shot Danika Troy.” He described the relationship between the three teenagers as “friends, supposedly.”
Both boys were charged with first-degree premeditated murder. They are being held at the Santa Rosa Juvenile Detention Center without bond.
