John Jefferson
Left: Savon Tyler (Sanford Police Department). Right: Lauren Martin (Facebook).
An argument between a Florida photographer and her client devolved into violence when the upset client shot the woman to death in a murder captured on Facebook Live, authorities say.
Savon Chantay Tyler, 35, is accused of killing 34-year-old Lauren Ashley Martin on Tuesday in Sanford, which is about 20 miles north of Orlando. A probable cause arrest affidavit says cops responded around 7 p.m. to a shooting in the 1700 block of Travertine Terrace. When they arrived they found Martin in the road suffering from gunshot wounds to the chest. Doctors performed emergency surgery when she got to the hospital but lifesaving efforts were unsuccessful and they pronounced her dead.
Cops processing the scene found a pool of blood, a children’s toy bat and a 9 mm handgun. Savon, who lived at the condo complex, remained on scene and spoke with investigators. Post-Miranda, she reportedly admitted to shooting Martin twice during a fistfight.
Martin’s family told Orlando NBC affiliate WESH that she was a photographer. Tyler had an issue with some of the photos and someone made a comment online and it “spiraled out of control from there,” Martin’s aunt said.
Tyler told police that she learned Martin was coming over to her home to fight while watching a Facebook Live video. According to the affidavit, Tyler said she grabbed the gun and the mini bat. While waiting for Martin, Tyler “strategically placed” the gun in a nearby utility box, per the affidavit.
When Martin arrived, Tyler met her in the middle of the street holding the mini bat. The two began a “mutual-combat style fist fight,” cops said. Martin then snatched the bat out of her hand, police said. Tyler allegedly ran to retrieve the gun and shot Martin twice, according to the affidavit.
Tyler claimed she became in fear for her life when Martin had the bat, but backtracked on that statement and claimed she thought Martin could’ve had a weapon. She then said she was scared for her four children in the home.
Facebook Live videos by Martin and Tyler’s girlfriend captured some of the incident, including the suspect holding a gun. The girlfriend was allegedly egging on Tyler, saying “beat that hoe’s ass” and “fire her ass up.” It was too dark to capture the shooting, but cops heard two gunshots in the background. One shot hit Martin’s forearm and the other entered her abdomen, which struck several organs.
“A family is mourning the loss of a loved one, because someone chose to resolve a disagreement with violence,” Sanford police Chief Cecil Smith said in a statement. “What started the argument between these two won’t be remembered, but the loss of Lauren will forever be with her family and friends. There are choices other than violence.”
Tyler is at the Seminole County Jail without bond on a first-degree murder charge. She has a court date scheduled for Dec. 10.
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