“She Was Left in a Cemetery”: Family of Teen Mother Still Haunted by 2019 Shooting Death

A Virginia family continues to mourn the devastating loss of 17-year-old Nye’Tazia Hicks, a young mother whose death shocked the Portsmouth community after prosecutors revealed disturbing details about the moments following the shooting that claimed her life.

On July 27, 2019, Nye’Tazia went to a home in Portsmouth, Virginia, to babysit. According to investigators, tragedy unfolded when a 14-year-old boy allegedly gained access to an unsecured firearm inside the residence. During the incident, the gun discharged and struck the teenage mother.

But authorities say the events that followed were even more horrifying.

Prosecutors later revealed that after the shooting, the 14-year-old reportedly attempted to call for emergency ᴀssistance. However, Simone Latrea Worrell, who was allegedly present at the home, stopped the teen from seeking help. Instead of rushing Nye’Tazia to a hospital where doctors may have had a chance to save her life, Worrell allegedly drove the injured teenager to a nearby cemetery and abandoned her there.

Emergency responders eventually discovered Nye’Tazia, but it was too late.

The heartbreaking case devastated Nye’Tazia’s family, especially her mother, Victoria Hicks, who has spoken publicly about the unbearable pain of losing her daughter under such traumatic circumstances. Family members described Nye’Tazia as a caring young woman who was trying to build a future while also raising her young son.

“She still had her whole life ahead of her,” relatives said as the years-long legal process unfolded.

The tragedy left Nye’Tazia’s child without a mother and forced loved ones to relive the horrifying details repeatedly during court proceedings. For years, prosecutors worked to hold those involved accountable while the family waited for answers and justice.

In February 2026, the case reached a major turning point when Simone Latrea Worrell was convicted on charges including felony murder, child abuse, and neglect. Prosecutors argued that Nye’Tazia was denied any realistic chance of survival because critical medical ᴀssistance was delayed during the moments immediately following the shooting.

The conviction brought some measure of closure, but relatives say no court decision can erase the emotional damage left behind.

The case has also reignited conversations about gun safety and the importance of securing firearms around children and teenagers. Authorities emphasized that unsecured weapons continue to play a role in tragic incidents involving young victims across the country.

Community members in Portsmouth have continued honoring Nye’Tazia’s memory through online tributes and messages supporting her family. Many say the case remains difficult to comprehend because of how young she was and because she died while simply trying to babysit.

For her loved ones, however, the focus remains on remembering the person Nye’Tazia was beyond the headlines — a teenage mother, daughter, and young woman whose future was cut short in a senseless tragedy.

Years later, the image of a wounded teenager allegedly left alone in a cemetery still haunts those who followed the case, serving as a painful reminder of how quickly lives can be changed forever.