A 34-year-old teacher assistant from Hollywood, Florida, was found dead on the side of the Florida Turnpike on Christmas Eve.
On the evening of December 24, 2023, around 7 p.m., Broward County Regional Communications received a report of a body located just south of Sunrise Boulevard on the northbound side of the Florida Turnpike, roughly 30 miles north of Miami.
The Florida Highway Patrol and Davie Fire Rescue personnel responded to the scene. There, they discovered Shakira Shanay Mozie’s body and pronounced her dead.
Homicide detectives from the sheriff’s office were summoned to aid in the investigation. They indicated that Mozie’s injuries are consistent with those sustained from falling out of a moving vehicle.
The ongoing investigation involves questioning her boyfriend, Duane Hawkins, identified as the only known occupant of her white Lexus SUV.
The two were returning to her home in Tamarac from a Christmas party in West Park at the time of her death.
Notably, after being interrogated, Hawkins was arrested on unrelated charges of driving with a suspended license but, to date, has not faced charges related to Mozie’s death.
In their statements to NBC Miami, her family strongly suggested the possibility of foul play.
Connie Smith-Lindsey, Mozie’s great-aunt, has emphasized the family’s insistence on a comprehensive investigation to secure a guilty verdict.
Echoing this same sentiment, her father has expressed skepticism about the likelihood of her voluntarily jumping from the vehicle, pointing out that the boyfriend is likely the only witness to the events.
Beyond her role as a teacher assistant, Mozie was also engaged in various other capacities, including providing security, tutoring, and volunteering as a cheerleading coach.
Her commitment to education and the well-being of her students has left an indelible mark on the community.
Her great-aunt highlighted how her tragic death not only impacts Mozie’s 10-year-old daughter but also the lives of countless students she mentored.
