Shakira Mozie and the white Lexus her boyfriend was driving before she was found dead on the Florida Turnpike (WPLG screenshots)
Law enforcement authorities in Florida are currently investigating the death of a 34-year-old teacher assistant who was found dead on the side of the Florida Turnpike last month on Christmas Eve after having apparently fallen out of a moving car. The Broward County Sheriff’s Office on Monday identified the victim as Shakira Mozie, of Hollywood, Florida, and noted that the investigation into her death is being led by homicide detectives.
According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, Broward County Regional Communications at about 7 p.m. on Dec. 24 received notification that there was a body just south of Sunrise Boulevard on the northbound side of the Florida Turnpike, which is about 30 miles north of Miami.
A trooper with Florida Highway Patrol and Davie Fire Rescue personnel responded to the scene. Upon arriving, first responders located an adult female — later identified as Mozie — on the side of the road. She was pronounced dead on the scene. The state trooper then requested homicide detectives from the sheriff’s office assist in the investigation.
“According to detectives, the preliminary investigation revealed the victim suffered injuries consistent with falling out of a moving vehicle,” the release states. “As of today, detectives said they have questioned the only other known occupant of the vehicle identified as Mozie’s boyfriend.”
Authorities emphasized that their investigation remains ongoing and noted that the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office will perform an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of Mozie’s death.
Family members told Miami NBC affiliate WTVJ that Mozie was in her white Lexus SUV — which was being driven by her boyfriend — as the two were on their way back from a Christmas party when she died. Mozie’s great aunt, Connie Smith-Lindsey, said they suspect foul play led to Mozie’s death.
“While there are speculations, what is important is to gather the facts so that we can get a guilty verdict,” Smith-Lindsey reportedly told the station. “Something sinister, evil, devastating, selfish, narcissistic happened between the Christmas party and the Florida Turnpike. I just want to wait on the investigation to do its due diligence, so that we can get the guilty verdict needed to put the person or persons responsible in jail.”
Mozie’s father told Miami ABC affiliate WPLG that Mozie’s boyfriend and the Lexus both made it back from the party fine. He also said the boyfriend is the only person who truly knows what happened to his daughter, but added that it was “impossible” she just jumped from the moving car. The boyfriend was arrested on Monday and charged with driving with a suspended license but has not been charged in connection to Mozie’s death.
According to Smith-Lindsey, Mozie’s death will not just have a traumatic effect on her 10-year-old daughter, but will also impact the lives of the many students she reached through her work as a teacher assistant and tutor.
“We’re devastated because not only is a young mother with a 10-year-old gone from us, [but also] this is beyond just one person and a child. This death impacts a generation of students,” she told WTVJ. “She poured into students who would not have passed important tests had it not been for her love of education.”
Authorities are urging anyone with information relevant to the case to contact Broward County Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS.
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