Florida woman accused of murder says she shot man after he allegedly attacked and threatened to kill her

A Florida rapper is currently facing a second-degree murder charge following a fatal shooting incident that has sparked a significant legal debate over self-defense. Kevhani Hicks, who is 28 years old and known by her stage name Key Vani, has entered a plea of not guilty regarding the death of Omar Demetrie Harris. 

While Hicks does not deny that she was the one who fired the weapon, her defense team maintains that the actions taken were entirely necessary to save her own life. This situation has evolved into a complex legal battle involving Florida’s Stand Your Ground law, with both the prosecution and the defense presenting vastly different accounts of the events that led to the death of Harris.

As reported by Court TV, the evening reportedly began with a plan for Hicks to distribute promotional flyers at a networking event alongside her manager, Nathan Smith. According to the defense, Smith informed Hicks that his friend, Harris, would be joining them, marking the first time Hicks and Harris had ever met. 

She says she acted in self-defense

The situation reportedly turned tense almost immediately when Harris insisted that Hicks ride in the back seat of the vehicle. The group eventually made their way to a Red Rooster restaurant to hand out flyers. Before entering the establishment, they reportedly secured their belongings in the trunk of Smith’s white Lexus. 

The defense noted that Hicks was careful to follow safety protocols regarding establishments that serve alcohol, stating, “Because Ms. Hicks strictly adhered to standard firearm safety protocol regarding alcohol-serving establishments, she placed her purse — which contained her lawfully concealed firearm — inside the trunk and carried only her promotional flyers into the venue.”

Prosecutors have countered this narrative by pointing out that neither Smith nor Harris was armed at the time, and they assert that neither man was aware that Hicks had a firearm stored in her purse. As the night progressed, the defense claims that the environment inside the car became increasingly hostile. 

They stated, “The environment inside the vehicle was domineered with Harris’ behavior. Harris  reportedly made aggressive, derogatory remarks about Smith’s music, calling it ‘trash,’ and refused to allow Ms. Hicks to play her music, asserting that only his music would be played.”

The situation reportedly reached a breaking point after the trio left the restaurant and traveled to a location in Wynwood. Surveillance footage shows Hicks exiting the vehicle and approaching the trunk, followed by Smith and then Harris. An argument ensued, which escalated into a physical confrontation.

Prosecutors allege that Hicks attempted to push Smith, resulting in both men pinning her to the ground to restrain her. Conversely, the defense argues that both men attacked Hicks without provocation, trapping her on the ground.

Following the initial fight, the parties separated, but the defense claims that as Hicks was walking away, Harris shouted threats. They stated, “Hearing these explicit promises of imminent death while just enduring physical and mental trauma from the attack, Ms. Hicks genuinely believed she was about to be executed.” 

Hicks told investigators that Harris threatened her by saying, “Keep talking that s—, I’ll kill you with one shot.” According to the defense, Hicks then retrieved her firearm from her purse and fired. She believed Harris was reaching for a weapon when he pulled a black object from his pocket.

The prosecution tells a different story, arguing that the two were walking away from each other when the shooting began. They stated, “After taking about ten steps up the sidewalk, the Defendant reached down into her purse, pulled out her gun, turned around, and started shooting at the victim. The victim immediately ran away.” They further alleged that Hicks chased Harris as he fled, even after he tripped and fell, continuing to fire until he was incapacitated.

The chaos continued as Smith allegedly drove the Lexus toward Hicks, striking her and backing over her body. Both Hicks and Harris were reportedly transported to hospitals with severe injuries, but Harris ultimately died from his gunshot wounds. 

A hearing regarding a motion to dismiss the case under Florida’s Stand Your Ground law will take place soon. Judge Jean Lody will preside over the case, and prosecutors have requested permission to record the upcoming evidentiary hearing, noting, “At said evidentiary hearing, the Defendant must testify to establish that she had a reasonable fear of the victim and that her use of deadly force was acceptable.”