A woman whose 24th birthday would've been on Sunday died under mysterious circumstances in Connecticut last month after meeting a man on a dating app.There was a huge community turnout to honor Lauren Smith-Fields over the weekend."I just want everyone to know I love my daughter, and we need justice, we need answers," Shantell Fields, Lauren's mother, said at a rally in front of the Bridgeport Police Department.The family alleges an inadequate response by the Bridgeport police after Smith-Fields, a Black woman, died in her apartment following a meeting with an older white man arranged on the dating app Bumble.They say the department's handling of the case has been racially insensitive and they are suing to get justice."Since she passed, this case has been covered 24 hours, seven days a week as a testimony to how vibrant and important she was," said Darnell Crosland, a lawyer representing Smith-Fields' family.Bridgeport city officials did not provide a comment on the march, but they did say the initial police investigation is under review.The medical examiner on the case has not yet released the cause of death.As her family and supporters — both in-person and online — focus on what will happen next, loved ones say whatever that is, they will be heard and shown respect."She was in college, and she has family and friends that love her," Shantell Fields said. "No one is going to discard Lauren Smith-Fields, my daughter, like she's rubbish."Watch the video above for more on this story.
A woman whose 24th birthday would've been on Sunday died under mysterious circumstances in Connecticut last month after meeting a man on a dating app.
There was a huge community turnout to honor Lauren Smith-Fields over the weekend.
"I just want everyone to know I love my daughter, and we need justice, we need answers," Shantell Fields, Lauren's mother, said at a rally in front of the Bridgeport Police Department.
The family alleges an inadequate response by the Bridgeport police after Smith-Fields, a Black woman, died in her apartment following a meeting with an older white man arranged on the dating app Bumble.
They say the department's handling of the case has been racially insensitive and they are suing to get justice.
"Since she passed, this case has been covered 24 hours, seven days a week as a testimony to how vibrant and important she was," said Darnell Crosland, a lawyer representing Smith-Fields' family.
Bridgeport city officials did not provide a comment on the march, but they did say the initial police investigation is under review.
The medical examiner on the case has not yet released the cause of death.
As her family and supporters — both in-person and online — focus on what will happen next, loved ones say whatever that is, they will be heard and shown respect.
"She was in college, and she has family and friends that love her," Shantell Fields said. "No one is going to discard Lauren Smith-Fields, my daughter, like she's rubbish."
Watch the video above for more on this story.
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