Saniyah Floyd, 18, of Capitol Heights, Maryland, died on the night of April 7, 2019, in a Fort Washington home from a single gunshot wound. Witnesses initially reported the wound as an accidental, self-inflicted injury, but the medical examiner later ruled the death a homicide because the wound could not have been self-inflicted.

Investigators focused on Saniyah’s 19-year-old boyfriend, Jamal Speaks. Authorities say Speaks had illegally purchased the firearm and had been recklessly handling it during the day. That evening he fired a single shot that fatally wounded Saniyah, then placed the weapon in her hand in an attempt to stage the scene as a suicide. He later admitted involvement to police. Saniyah was a Central High School graduate and had a twin sister; she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Speaks was arrested and initially charged with first- and second-degree murder, assault, and weapons offenses, held without bond. The first-degree murder charge was later reduced to manslaughter, and obstruction of justice was added; prosecutors said there was no evidence of an intent to kill. In February 2020 Speaks pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and obstruction of justice.