19-Year-Old Woman Killed at Fort Lauderdale Airbnb: Legal Options After Shootings in Florida

A night that began with chaos and commotion in a quiet residential neighborhood ended in tragedy when 19-year-old Myrah Zeigler was shot and killed outside a duplex rented through Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale’s River Oaks area.

According to the Fort Lauderdale Police Department, the shooting occurred around 4:30 a.m. on Monday morning following a disturbance involving a group of adults. Witnesses described hearing glass breaking, people screaming, and someone yelling threats involving a firearm before the sound of gunfire rang out.

Police arrived to find Zeigler lying in the roadway with a gunshot wound. She was rushed to Broward Health Medical Center, where she was later pronounced dead. As of now, no arrests have been made, and authorities are asking anyone with information to come forward.

The violence took place at a duplex on SW 16th Street, one of the units rented through Airbnb. A father and his young daughter were staying next door and described the night as “chaotic and terrifying.” The man told reporters he had texted the Airbnb manager about the noise and was preparing to call 911 when the shooting occurred.

Nearby residents and neighborhood leaders expressed shock and concern about the violence in what is typically considered a quiet, residential area. The incident has renewed conversations around the safety of short-term rentals and the need for better safeguards to prevent disruptive or dangerous gatherings.

Legal Options After a Fatal Shooting at a Rental Property

When a young person’s life is taken due to violence, particularly at a rental property where conditions may have allowed the situation to escalate, grieving families often face not only emotional devastation, but questions about accountability and justice.

While the criminal investigation will determine whether charges are filed against the shooter, families may also have the right to pursue a civil wrongful death claim under Florida law.

A wrongful death claim is a civil legal action that may be filed when someone dies due to another party’s negligence, recklessness, or intentional act. In this case, multiple parties could potentially be examined for liability, including:

• The shooter, if identified
• The property owner or Airbnb host, if they failed to take reasonable steps to prevent unsafe or unauthorized use of the property
• Airbnb, if policy violations or prior incidents were ignored

Wrongful death claims involving shootings at rental properties often raise difficult legal questions:

• Was the property known for hosting unauthorized parties or dangerous activity?
• Did the host or platform ignore warning signs or neighborhood complaints?
• Were there inadequate security measures, such as lack of cameras, lighting, or occupancy controls?
• Did the platform’s policies fail to prevent the booking of high-risk reservations?

Even when the shooter is identified, families may need to explore other avenues of liability to ensure meaningful accountability and compensation.

Florida’s Wrongful Death Act (Fla. Stat. § 768.16–768.26) allows the personal representative of the deceased’s estate to file a claim on behalf of surviving family members, such as parents, children, or other dependents.

Damages in a Wrongful Death Claim May Include:

• Funeral and burial expenses
• Medical expenses related to the fatal injury
• Loss of support and future income
• Loss of companionship, protection, and guidance
• Mental pain and suffering for surviving family members

Wrongful death cases are often complex, especially those involving gun violence, third-party properties, and corporate platforms like Airbnb. While a criminal conviction can support a civil case, it is not required. A separate investigation by attorneys and experts can uncover liability even if no arrest has been made.

No parent should ever have to bury a child—especially not due to senseless violence at a place that should have been safe. While the criminal investigation continues, families affected by tragedies like this one often need answers, support, and guidance on what steps they can take next.

If you are mourning the loss of a loved one in a similar situation, it’s important to understand your rights and the possible legal remedies available to you. Seeking answers is not just about accountability—it’s often about healing, justice, and ensuring steps are taken to prevent another family from experiencing the same pain.

The Purpose of Wrongful Death Claims

In the aftermath of such senseless loss, families are often overwhelmed, not just with grief, but with unanswered questions. What went wrong? Who should be held accountable? Could this have been prevented? These are not just emotional questions, but legal ones as well.

While the criminal justice system may pursue charges against the person who pulled the trigger, it often does little to address the broader context: Was this property safe? Were guests properly screened? Did the rental platform or host ignore warning signs? These are the types of questions civil law can explore through a wrongful death claim.

In Florida, the Wrongful Death Act exists to provide families with a path to accountability and financial support. This is not about putting a price on a life, because no amount of money can truly compensate for a loved one’s absence. Instead, it is about helping families move forward: covering funeral costs, addressing lost income and support, and recognizing the emotional devastation caused by a preventable death.

Pursuing a wrongful death claim may also have a broader social impact. These lawsuits can force property owners, short-term rental platforms, and policy makers to re-examine safety standards, strengthen protocols, and prevent similar tragedies from happening in the future. Civil accountability often leads to reform.