An American college student was fatally shot in the face at a festival after telling a man to stop grinding against her, police said.
Tiarah Poyau, 22, was at New York’s J’ouvert Festival on Monday when she was accosted by a man in the early hours of the morning.
She told him “get off me” before a shot was fired, according to the New York Post. Her friends, who were walking ahead, turned to see her falling to the ground.
Police arrested a 20-year-old who was drunk-driving later that morning and immediately linked him to the festival killing.
According to NYPD Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce, Reginald Moise told friends before his arrest: “I think I shot somebody on the parade route, and I didn’t know the gun was loaded.”
Police said the weapon used to shoot Ms Poyau was found at the apartment of Boise’s girlfriend.
He is said to have been driving on three wheels and with a Caribbean flag wrapped around his hand when he was detained.
Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce has paid tribute to Ms Poyau, saying: “This young lady is just a stellar person, no issues in her life whatsoever, and none before either.”
The J’ouvert festival is a large street party held during the Caribbean carnival. It begins well before dawn and peaks just a few hours after sunrise.
Police are still investigating the death of 17-year-old Tyreke Borel, who was also fatally shot at the festival.
