A Sanford community is grappling with a tragedy following a deadly altercation that was streamed live online, resulting in the death of one woman and the arrest of another. Savon Chantay Tyler, 35, is accused of shooting 34-year-old Lauren Ashley Martin during a fight that took a fatal turn.
The incident occurred Tuesday night, around 7 p.m., on Travertine Terrace, a normally quiet gated community in Sanford. The encounter, which was initially verbal and later escalated to physical violence, was captured on video—a recording that would later spread across social media platforms. In a statement reported by WFTV, police positively identified Tyler as the shooter. She has since been charged with first-degree premeditated murder and is being held without bond.
Shockingly, the entire incident was filmed and shared online, bringing to light the horrifying reality of social media's role in real-time violence. According to WFTV, criminal attorney Adam Pollack indicated that the person operating the camera during the incident could potentially face serious legal consequences, including possibly even first-degree murder charges, depending on their level of involvement.
Earlier in the evening, a disagreement quickly spiraled out of control when Martin drove to Tyler's home during what seemed to be an ongoing argument. According to a statement detailed by WESH by the victim's aunt, Jessica Burks, online comments had exacerbated tensions between the two women. In a tragic recounting, Burks remembered her niece as "my best friend, my diary," and expressed disbelief over the sudden violence that took her niece's life, noting that they "were all friends."
Court records reveal that the encounter between Martin and Tyler, described by police as a "mutual-combat style fist fight," ended when Tyler allegedly shot Martin multiple times. The Sanford Police Department responded to the scene shortly after the violent exchange, finding Martin in the street with gunshot wounds. She later succumbed to her injuries at the hospital. Anyone possessing further information about the incident has been urged to contact the Sanford Police Department or Crimeline, with the latter offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for tips that help solve the case.