The Department of Justice announced on April 12 that it would not pursue federal charges in the death of Shanquella Robinson, saying the evidence did not support a federal prosecution.
Robinson, the 25-year-old Charlotte woman who died on October 28, 2022, while vacationing with six friends in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, will not receive justice.
The cause of death was determined to be a severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation, an instability or excessive movement of the uppermost vertebrae in the neck.
The initial police report, however, contradicts the official autopsy, which said she was intoxicated and died of a heart attack and dehydration.
Either way, Robinson’s friends, who were allegedly involved in a group assault on the victim at the hotel where she was staying, refused to call the authorities.
The names of her alleged friends have not been released to the public, and it is assumed that their involvement will not be held accountable or charged for related issues.
“The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Ms. Robinson has been a priority for federal prosecutors and the FBI,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina said in a statement Wednesday. “Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinson’s family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution.”
Until the announcement, Robinson’s family and friends continue to demand justice for her death. They have set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for her funeral and to help fund the ongoing investigation. They have also started a petition calling on the Mexican government to reopen the case, hoping someone will get charged.
Robinson, graduated from Garinger High School in 2015 and attended Winston-Salem State University for two years before dropping out to focus on her business, was a young woman with a bright future.
In 2018, she founded her own women’s fashion clothing line called Shanquella Robinson Designs. She was also a hairstylist and social media personality had more than 100,000 followers on Instagram.
Her death is a tragedy and leaves her family and friends with many unanswered questions.
