Two teenagers from New Orleans have tragically died after their car collided with a vehicle driven by suspected shoplifters fleeing from the police.
The incident occurred on December 11, 2024, when 17-year-olds Giselle Smith and Semaj Morris were in a Toyota Camry with Smith’s sister, 21-year-old Paris Kiper.
According to the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD), the crash happened after Joneaka Smooth, 30, and two accomplices fled from Jefferson Parish authorities, who had been responding to a shoplifting call.
As Smooth attempted to evade capture, she swerved across lanes and jumped the median, colliding with the victims’ car.
Tragically, Giselle Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, and Semaj Morris succumbed to injuries the following day.
Paris Kiper, who had been planning to celebrate her birthday just a day later, remains in critical condition at a local hospital.
Smith’s family is grieving the loss of their daughter, who had already endured immense hardship after the passing of her mother to colon cancer earlier this year.
READ ALSO: Father Allegedly Set Fire to House with His 3 Kids, Including Toddler, Still Inside
The community has rallied around the family, with a vigil held near the crash site to honor the teens’ memory.
Family and friends gathered, releasing pink and blue balloons in tribute.
After the crash, Smooth turned herself in to authorities and faces multiple charges, including fleeing police, hit-and-run, and manslaughter.
Jefferson Parish police have also detained a 37-year-old woman, with another suspect still at large.
This devastating incident has left the family and local community in mourning, while authorities continue to investigate the tragic events that led to the loss of two young lives.