On Saturday, July 19, 2025, at approximately 5:49 p.m., Lake City Police officers responded to a call at Regal Cinema 90, located at 2830 W US Highway 90, regarding a child locked inside a vehicle.
Upon arrival, officers located a visibly distressed two-year-old girl inside a locked vehicle. Officers broke the driver’s side window to rescue the child, who was flushed, sweating, and crying. Emergency Medical Services transported her to Lake City Medical Center for treatment.
Investigators determined that the child’s mother, 18-year-old Tipora Lashanti Merriex-Jackson, had taken her daughter and younger siblings to the movies. After repeated disruptions in the theater, Merriex removed her daughter but left her alone in the locked vehicle while she returned to the theater. Witnesses confirmed Merriex remained inside the building during this time.
At the time of the incident, the outside temperature was 94 degrees with a heat index of 107.
Merriex-Jackson was arrested and transported to the Columbia County Detention Center. Her bond was set at $50,000.
Chief of Police Gerald Butler stated, “Leaving a child unattended in a vehicle under these conditions is unacceptable. We are thankful the child is safe and urge all parents to prioritize the well-being of their children at all times.”
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Lake City Police Department at (386) 752-4343 or provide anonymous tips through the LCPD TIPS line at (386) 719-2068 or Crime Stoppers of Columbia County at (386) 754-7099.
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