In Charlotte, North Carolina, the legal battle surrounding the death of Shanquella Robinson has taken a new turn as one of the defendants has formally asked the court to dismiss the wrongful death lawsuit.

According to court documents filed on March 14, 2025, Khalil Cooke — identified as one of the individuals named in the case — is arguing that the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina should not hear the lawsuit. His legal team claims the court is an improper venue and that the matter should instead be handled in Mexico, where the incident occurred.

This motion comes after similar requests were previously filed by other co-defendants, including Alysee Hyatt, Wenter Donovan, and Malik Dyer. Those filings also argued that because the incident took place in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, the case should fall under Mexican jurisdiction rather than being tried in the United States.

The defense position is based on the argument that the alleged wrongful death happened outside U.S. territory, and therefore Mexican law and courts should take precedence in handling the matter.

However, the legal team representing Shanquella Robinson’s mother, Sallamondra Robinson, has strongly opposed these motions. In their response, they argue that North Carolina remains the appropriate jurisdiction for the case due to several key factors, including the residency of the defendants and the events that allegedly occurred after Robinson’s death.

According to the plaintiff’s filings, all of the defendants are U.S. citizens from North Carolina, and they allegedly returned to the state following the incident. The response further claims that critical information related to Robinson’s death was not fully disclosed and that certain actions taken after the event — including the circulation of a viral video showing parts of the confrontation — connect the case directly to North Carolina.

The plaintiff’s legal team also argues that dismissing the case on jurisdictional grounds would significantly hinder the pursuit of justice. They state that pursuing the matter in Mexico could present major challenges, including difficulties in obtaining witness testimony and accessing key evidence, which may not be as readily available under a foreign legal system.

Additionally, Robinson’s mother has maintained her position that the case should be heard in U.S. courts to ensure accountability. Her legal team emphasizes that allowing the case to be dismissed or moved could set a concerning precedent, potentially enabling defendants in similar cases to avoid legal responsibility by shifting jurisdiction after leaving a foreign country.

The case now centers on a complex jurisdictional dispute rather than the facts of the incident itself, with both sides presenting arguments about where the lawsuit should properly be heard.

As of now, the court has not issued a final ruling on the motion to dismiss. The decision will determine whether the wrongful death lawsuit will proceed in North Carolina or be redirected to another jurisdiction, potentially Mexico.

For now, the legal proceedings remain ongoing, with the outcome of this motion expected to play a significant role in shaping the next stage of the case.