Latest news with #CaboSix
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Federal judge dismisses Shanquella Robinson wrongful death lawsuit against FBI, State Department
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A federal judge Friday dismissed the wrongful death lawsuit made by the family of Shanquella Robinson against a pair of federal agencies. The FBI and State Department had motioned to dismiss the suit in January due to the alleged lack of jurisdiction over claims made against them. Robinson's estate made the amended claims in November 2024 seeking damages from the agencies based on their alleged negligence in relation to her 2022 death in Mexico. The estate also sought immediate release of related records from the FBI. PREVIOUS: Robinson's family pushes for case to be heard in U.S. Robinson, a Charlotte woman, died while vacationing with friends at a resort in Cabo San Lucas. Court documents show the autopsy report done in Mexico showed the cause of death was a severe spinal cord injury and neck trauma. However, when her body was returned home, a second autopsy by the FBI contradicted the report. In November 2022, the FBI informed Robinson's mother, Sallamondra, 'that it opened an investigation into the murder,' but in April 2023 told Sallamondra, her family and the public that the agency was no longer pursuing federal prosecution of the Cabo Six. In Friday's ruling, U.S. District Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. agrees with the agencies argument that the family's Freedom of Information Act claim against the FBI and State Department must be dismissed because 'this Court lacks derivative jurisdiction over Plaintiff's FOIA claim.' 'Because the North Carolina court 'never acquired jurisdiction over either the subject matter [FOIA claim] or the [FBI] as a United States agency,' this Court 'can acquire none from the removal under NC Statute 1442.' The Robinson family still has a civil lawsuit against the members of the Cabo Six, accuses them of lying about Shanquella's death and trying to cover it up. They are pushing for this case to be heard in the United States. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Yahoo
Another member of the ‘Cabo Six' seeks to have Shanquella Robinson's wrongful death lawsuit dismissed
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — In the ongoing legal battle surrounding the untimely death of Shanquella Robinson, Khalil Cooke, one of the individuals linked to the case, has filed a motion to dismiss the wrongful death lawsuit. Cooke, who is the fourth defendant in the case, is arguing that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina is an improper venue to hear the case. This motion, filed on March 14, 2025, comes after similar motions were filed by other co-defendants, Alysee Hyatt, Wenter Donovan, and Malik Dyer. These individuals had previously argued that the case should be handled under Mexican law because the incident took place in Mexico. The motion to dismiss claims that since the wrongful death occurred outside the United States, it should be dealt with in Mexico, not in North Carolina, where the defendants reside. Shanquella Robinson's mother, Sallamondra Robinson, has fiercely responded to these motions. In February, Hyatt and Donovan filed their motions, claiming that because the incident happened in Mexico, the case should be pursued under Mexican jurisdiction. However, the plaintiff's legal team has pushed back, arguing that the defendants' motion is not enough to dismiss the case from North Carolina courts. Robinson's response to the motion highlights that this lawsuit is filed by an American plaintiff (Shanquella's mother) against American defendants, many of whom reportedly fled to North Carolina after the incident. This, they argue, makes North Carolina the most appropriate jurisdiction for the lawsuit. According to the plaintiff, the defendants, who are all from North Carolina, allegedly tried to conceal critical information about Shanquella's death after returning to the state. The response emphasizes that the actions of the so-called 'Cabo Six' in the aftermath of Shanquella's death – including promoting the viral video of the violent attack and withholding information from investigators – should be addressed in North Carolina courts. The defense's attempt to have the case dismissed, the plaintiff argues, would only serve to evade justice. In addition to the legal arguments presented by the defendants, the plaintiff raises concerns about the challenges of pursuing the case in Mexico. One of the main points made in the response is that the defendants failed to explain how a case would be properly handled in Mexico, where obtaining testimony from witnesses might be extremely difficult. The plaintiffs argue that dismissing the case would deny them the chance to present their case fairly and could undermine the ability to hold the defendants accountable in a court of law. If the claims are dismissed, some fear it would set a dangerous precedent that could send the message that U.S. citizens can evade justice by fleeing to a foreign country, and then use 'jurisdictional loopholes' to avoid legal consequences. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Yahoo
‘Stomped on': FBI documents reveal new details in Shanquella Robinson case
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The family of Shanquella Robinson, a Charlotte woman who died while on vacation in Mexico in October 2022, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against her friends who were with her during the trip. The legal action comes amid new revelations from an ongoing FBI investigation, which has brought fresh scrutiny to the circumstances surrounding Robinson's death. Robinson, who had traveled to the Baja Peninsula with a group of friends, was reported to have suffered injuries after allegedly getting drunk and hurting herself. However, a disturbing video that later surfaced contradicted these claims. The footage appeared to show Robinson being physically assaulted. At that time, Mexican authorities announced that her death was caused by a broken neck, not self-inflicted injuries. Mexican authorities issued an arrest warrant for one of the 'Cabo Six,' but the State Department reportedly never forwarded the request to the International Affairs office so they were never extradited. Both the FBI and the State Department have filed a motion to dismiss the wrongful death lawsuit due to a lack of jurisdiction over the claims made against the defendants. About one week later, Nazeer Wiggins, another one of the 'Cabo Six,' responded, denying all allegations. The legal battle is intensifying as more details emerged this week. The FBI recently released new documents in connection to the investigation, though much of it has been redacted, including the names of those who spoke with agents. According to the heavily censored documents, Robinson's body showed signs of significant trauma, including bruises and injuries that indicated she had been 'stomped on.' Authorities also expressed suspicion that there may have been hidden cameras inside the Airbnb where Robinson and her friends were staying, potentially providing further evidence of what happened in the moments leading up to her death. While further details of the ongoing investigation haven't been released, the Robinson family is determined to hold those responsible accountable. Their lawsuit alleges that Robinson's friends contributed to her death and they're seeking justice for their 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Yahoo
Two of the accused 'Cabo Six' file motion to dismiss Shanquella Robinson wrongful death lawsuit
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Two of the defendants in the Shanquella Robinson wrongful death lawsuit have filed motions to dismiss the allegations against them, claiming improper venue, according to court filings. The defendants, Alysse Hyatt and Wenter Donovan claim that because the alleged incident occurred in Mexico, it should have been handled by Mexican law. Since the lawsuit was never filed there, they say the claims made against them should be dismissed. According to the latest filings, the defendants add that they were bystanders during the alleged fight between Robinson and another person, adding there were no allegations made against them that they participated in the fight or touched anyone. In October 2022, 25-year-old Shanquella Robinson and six others took a vacation to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Shortly after they arrived, Robinson was pronounced dead by medical personnel on October 29. The autopsy report done in Mexico showed the cause of death was a severe spinal cord injury and neck trauma. Following the incident, a video was released of Robinson being attacked on the trip. Mexican authorities issued an arrest warrant for one of the Cabo Six, but the State Department never forwarded the request to the International Affairs office so they were never extradited. This motion comes a month after the FBI and State Department filed a similar motion to dismiss the lawsuit due to a lack of jurisdiction over the claims made against the defendants. A week later, Nazeer Wiggins, another one of the Cabo Six, responded to the complaint, denying all allegations made against him. As of now, no one has been charged in the death of Shanquella Robinson. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
