Former hospital worker killed by boyfriend, Tallahassee police say
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The woman who was found dead in the parking lot of the Terra Lake Apartments on Dec. 28 was allegedly shot by her boyfriend, court records reveal.
A probable cause affidavit released Tuesday said 21-year-old Kenyadric Smith, who faces multiple charges including premeditated murder and armed robbery, shot his girlfriend, Kiara Daniels, shortly after she returned from work to the complex where they shared an apartment.
Tallahassee police arrived at the scene, 1375 Pullen Road, at 4:28 p.m. — three minutes after being dispatched, court records say. They found Daniels in the parking lot with a fatal gunshot wound to her head. She was officially pronounced dead at 4:38 p.m. by medical units.
Arrest:Police arrest man on murder charge following fatal shooting at Terra Lake Apartments
Initial story:Woman killed in shooting at Tallahassee apartment complex, homicide investigation ensues
Daniels, who was known to friends and family as "Keke," graduated from FAMU DRS in 2020. She worked for Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare from early 2021 to May 2022 in the hospital's linen services department. It is unclear where she worked after leaving TMH. Her family has not responded to requests for comment.
"We are all very saddened to hear about the sudden death of Kiara Daniels. In her time here at TMH, she was a very private and quiet person," read a statement from the TMH supply chain laundry team. "We all shared a friendly relationship with Kiara and are at a loss for words."
Smith, Daniels' alleged killer, was found within hours of the shooting near their shared apartment in the Terra Lake complex. He matched the description given to police by witnesses who said the suspect ran to the wood line adjacent to the parking lot where Daniels' body was found. In his pocket, police discovered a 9mm cartridge that matched a spent cartridge case picked up at the murder scene.
Smith, who attended FAMU DRS and played for its varsity football team, waived his Miranda Rights and told investigators he walked to the parking lot of the apartment complex and found his girlfriend, Daniels, in the car with another man. Smith said Daniels got out of the car and walked between himself and the man in the driver's seat. Smith said the man fired the fatal shot that killed Daniels.
Finding this statement inconsistent with what witnesses said, police interviewed the man who was later identified as one of Daniels' coworkers. The man said he gave Daniels, who he had become friends with, a ride home after their shift. They were talking in the parking lot when Smith opened the driver's side door holding a pistol and demanded the man's cell phone and car keys. He handed them over, and Smith browsed through his phone before throwing it toward the wood line.
Soon the man said he ran away while Smith and Daniels argued. As he was running through the breezeway and away from the complex to seek help he heard a gunshot "and believed that Smith had shot at him," an affidavit says.
"He turned around and noticed he was alone," court records say.
The man sought refuge in a nearby apartment. His recount of events matched statements provided by other witnesses, police say.
In Smith's apartment, detectives found a shotgun, firearm accessories and other paraphernalia. The handgun used in the fatal shooting, however, was not recovered.
"It is plausible that Smith discarded the handgun nearby the incident location," police wrote. Smith remains the in the Leon County Detention Facility without bail.
Contact Christopher Cann at ccann@tallahassee.com and follow @ChrisCannFL on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Former TMH worker killed by boyfriend at Terra Lake complex, TPD says
