Family demands justice for woman fatally shot after reported Miramar robbery

A family is demanding justice after a woman was found shot and later died after police responded to a reported robbery at an apartment complex in Miramar last week.

Karolyn Taylor said that her only daughter, 22-year-old Makayla Mendez, did not deserve to die. Surrounded by her family on Tuesday, Taylor couldn’t hold back her tears.

“She didn’t have to die like that, he didn’t have to do her like that,” she said. “I want justice for my baby, I want justice.”

According to police, someone called 911 last Friday about a robbery on North Preserve Way. When officers showed up, police said they found a woman shot and a man who they believed shot her.

The woman, who police confirmed was Mendez, later died. While police haven’t arrested anyone or identified the shooter, Taylor said the man was her daughter’s boyfriend, who detectives said was cooperating with police.

“She told me she coming back and she ain’t come back, she said, ma, I’m coming back, but my baby ain’t come back,” Taylor said.

In recently obtained 911 calls, an unknown man is heard panicked and fearful.

“Please, please hurry up and send police,” the caller said. “Ma’am, I’m scared.”

Taylor said her daughter’s boyfriend invited her to the apartment and doesn’t believe her daughter robbed anyone or was involved in a robbery.

“It’s wrong, it’s wrong, they’re portraying her wrong, so wrong,” Taylor said. “She’ll give a person the shirt off her back.”

“We’re going to go to our grave until she gets justice, we’re going to keep fighting for Makayla,” Mendez’s aunt Simone Taylor said.

Makayla’s family said they’re desperate for answers. 

“That’s my baby, that’s my child, and the way things transpired shouldn’t have happened like that,” Taylor said.

Miramar Police said Tuesday that detectives are still investigating and that they have no updates.

There is a GoFundMe for the family.