October 6, 2011 11:30am
A Leon County grand jury has indicted Starquinesha Palmer for first degree murder in the death of FAMU basketball player Shannon Washington.
Palmer is accused of stabbing Washington to death in her apartment on September 4th.
________________________
[UPDATE] 9-6 -
The police report is attached to the story in PDF format above.
_____________________________________
Tallahassee, Florida 9-5 --
The woman accused of killing a FAMU basketball player has been denied bond.
Starquineshia Palmer had her first appearance Monday morning. She was appointed a public defender, and was ordered to have DNA samples.
TPD says Palmer killed FAMU women's basketball player, Shannon Washington, by stabbing her with a kitchen knife.
They say Palmer was a friend of Washington's and was visiting for the weekend.
__________________________________________________
Tallahassee 9-4-11 11:23PM
Shannon Washington was a transfer player to the FAMU basketball team, but she'll never get the chance to play with the Rattlers. Washington was stabbed to death early Sunday morning. FAMU students gathered in Lee Hall on campus to remember her."
Her sister joined the vigil with another family member to thank the huge crowd of about 200 FAMU students that came out to remember her sister.
"She was only here for a week or two, and she was really happy because she wanted to play ball for FAMU. She was really happy to be a Rattler." The FAMU women's basketball coach has known Washington for seven years and was heartbroken at the vigil.
"Shannon was a great individual, she worked hard and she had a passion in the classroom and on the court." Many other members of the team stood up to talk about how wonderful of a person Washington was.
"I just want to say I love you Shannon and I know you're in a better place."
"Washington was a standout basketball player at Illinois Valley Community College. She was expected to play this fall as a shooting guard for the Rattlers.
_____________________________________________________
Tallahassee 9-4-11 6:43 PM
Tonight's vigil has been moved to Lee Hall.
_____________________________________________________
Tallahassee 9-4-11 1:02 p.m.
Loved ones are having a tonight at the Eternal Flame on FAMU's campus at 8:30 p.m. in the courtyard.
_____________________________________________________
Tallahassee 9-4-11 11:20 a.m.
Starquineshia Palmer had a previous arrest: Terry at the Manatee County Sheriff's Office says Palmer was on probation for her arrest on no valid driver's license.
Manatee County Sheriff's deputies picked her up on a warrant out of Hillsborough County.
Tallahassee 9-4-11
FAMU Press Release:
Florida A&M University (FAMU) is mourning the loss of Shannon Washington, a student and women’s basketball player.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to Shannon’s family and members of the Lady Rattlers Basketball Team,” said FAMU President James H. Ammons. “For Shannon to be killed in the prime of her life is tragic and senseless. She had so much promise as a student athlete. This is a great loss for the university and our athletic program.”
The FAMU Student Government Association will have a vigil tonight at 8:30 p.m. at the FAMU Eternal Flame to celebrate the life of Washington.
Washington was a standout basketball player at Illinois Valley Community College (IVCC) earning All-American honors both seasons at IVCC.
A native of Sarasota, Fla., her success at IVCC earned her the distinction of having a replica of her jersey to be honored in the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn.
Washington transferred to FAMU and was expected to play this fall as a shooting guard.
“It is truly a trying situation to lose a student-athlete that has come to us to further her education and excel at her sport,” said LeDawn Gibson, FAMU’s Head Women’s Basketball Coach. “As a coach, this is the kind of incident you just hope you never have to deal with — the death of one of your players at such a young age.”
“The closeness of the students, coaches and staff at FAMU Athletics resembles that of a family,” said Derek Horne, FAMU’s director of Athletics. “Losing a family member is never easy. Our task now is to make sure we learn from this, and make as much effort at preparing our student athletes for all situations that may occur.”
--------------------------------------------------------------
Tallahassee 9-4-11
Tallahassee Police Department Press Release
The Tallahassee Police Department responded to a report of a stabbing at 3025 South Adams Street this morning at approximately 2:03 AM.
Officers located victim Shannon Washington in the apartment, with a knife wound to her neck.
The victim was initially treated by officers on-scene, until EMS arrived.
She was then transported to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
The victim was a FAMU student athlete, who was a member of the women’s basketball team.
TPD has been in contact with university officials.
TPD Victim Advocates have been working with the FAMU Athletic Department, and the victim’s teammates.
Suspect Starquineshia Palmer was still at the apartment upon the arrival of officers.
The investigation determined she did not live in the apartment, but traveled to Tallahassee from Central Florida to visit the victim for the weekend.
The victim and Palmer began to argue in the early morning hours, resulting in Palmer stabbing the victim with a kitchen knife.
Palmer was detained and transported to the Tallahassee Police Department where she was interviewed and subsequently charged with first degree murder.
Palmer was then transported to the Leon County Jail.
Arrested: Starquineshia Palmer, black female, 10/26/1990
