April 12, 2023
BREAKING: US Prosecutors Will Not Bring Charges In Death of Shanquella Robinson
WBTV reports federal prosecutors have announced they will not file criminal charges in the death of Shanquella Robinson.
In a statement, United States Attorney Dena King and the FBI discussed what prompted them to come to this decision, citing insufficient evidence of wrongdoing to issue criminal charges in this case. “Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinson’s family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution,” the statement said.
Robinson died last October under suspicious circumstances a day after arriving in Cabo, Mexico, with six friends for vacation. After her family was told she died from alcohol poisoning, the FBI opened an investigation into her death after a video went viral of one of the friends allegedly beating on a defenseless Robinson at the villa. During the video, no one came to help her. A man’s voice, believed to be American, is heard saying, “Can you at least fight back?”
Robinson’s family met with King late Wednesday morning and is expected to hold a press conference Wednesday afternoon.
A few weeks ago, the Robinson family and family attorneys Ben Crump and Sue-Ann Robinson sent a letter to the Biden administration, identifying one of the travel companions, Dejahanae Jackson, as the attacker. They were pleading for justice for the Charlotte, North Carolina native. Journalist April Ryan asked about the investigation and received little to no answers from White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
“Our hearts go out to Ms. Robinson’s family and friends,” Jean-Pierre said. “It’s devastating what occurred. It’s a tragedy. We’ve been following the news. Because there’s an FBI investigation, there’s very little about what we can say.”
U.S. officials made it clear that Jackson is not a criminal suspect after the FBI investigation but haven’t specified the Department of Justice or Department of State’s position on extradition.