Arrests made in death following fight

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - Arrests have been made in the early morning January 21 fight that led to the death of a teen mother.

Pensacola Police have completed investigating the fight, which happened around 1:15 a.m. in 1200 block of North M Street at Morris Court Apartments.

Investigators determined a group of females ranging in age from their late teens to early 20s attended a party in the area of Fairfield Drive and Pace Boulevard, and then went to a park at Morris Court where the fight occurred.

Police have arrested Miyoshi Robinson, 21, who they say hit Ronkia Sconiers, 18, rendering her unconscious and then began kicking her while on the ground. Sconiers was transported to a hospital where she died.

Robinson has been charged with aggravated battery, a second degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. Her bond is set at $500,000.

Also arrested were two other individuals involved in the initial altercation. Shanelle Plair, 19, and Quiasjinee Miller, 18, both of Pensacola were charged with affray. Their bond was set at $1,000 each.

An online law dictionary defines affray as "a fight, noisy quarrel, or disturbance between two or more persons in a public place."

The Pensacola Police Department has been working with the state attorney's office during the investigation and determined aggravated battery is the appropriate charge considering circumstances surrounding the fight and subsequent death of Sconiers.

FOX10 wanted to know why Robinson was only being charged with aggravated battery.

Florida State Attorney Bill Eddins said Sconiers had a rare congenital defect in her spine that paralyzed her when she was struck.

"It was determined when the autopsy was done that the victim had a congenital defect in her spinal canal where it joins the brainstem that caused the actual death," said Eddins.

  Eddins said the defect was unknown to Sconiers, yet so severe that the fall to the ground alone could have killed her.

 "We did consider manslaughter but since it was mutual combat plus the congenital defect, we couldn't prove those charges beyond a reasonable doubt. It was a very difficult decision," Eddins said.

Sconiers family said when the fight began she was actually living at Morris Courts Apartments and was working toward her GED. They said the situation was so shocking because she wass not generally a violent person.

 Eddins said the fight also brought up the possibility of self defense.

"This was essentially an accident waiting to happen. A sad, unfortunate tragic accident, but it was waiting to happen," said Eddins.

Eddins said the events of that night are still under investigation, but he doesn't foresee any new charges being filed.