Layla Silvernail and Camille Quarles, two 16-year-old girls, and a 17-year-old boy were three adolescent pals who were shot and left for dead in a rural county north of Orlando sometime between March 30 and April 1.
Deputies from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) were called to the area of Forest Lakes Park on SE 183rd Avenue Road on March 30. There, they discovered 16-year-old Silvernail suffering from a gunshot wound.
The teen was taken by authorities to a hospital in a severe condition, where she continued to deteriorate until she was declared brain dead.
MCSO deputies returned to SE 94th Street and SE 188th Court a day after discovering Silvernail and discovered a dead 17-year-old male with a gunshot wound.
In response to information that Layla’s car was half submerged at the edge of a local body of water, the MCSO Major Crimes Unit, Forensic Unit, and Underwater Recovery Team responded to the area of Malauka Loop and Malauka Loop Trace the following morning, on April 1.
The 16-year-old Quarles was discovered dead from a gunshot wound after investigators obtained a search warrant and searched her car.
According to the evidence amassed by detectives, the three teenagers were grouped together prior to “the incident”. He declined to comment on whether the three pals were shot simultaneously or with the same weapon.
Investigators think Layla Silvernail, 16, owned the 2015 Chevy Cruze in which the three were riding.
The sheriff said that as of now, they are not aware of any other victims.
There are indications that the killings might be related to gang activity.
To report a tip anonymously to Crime Stoppers of Marion County or to the sheriff’s office, if you have information that may be helpful in the investigation