Both Janaeah Negash, 21, and Makyan Mercer, 20, are residents of Durham, North Carolina, United States. On the morning of January 24, 2023, they were at Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, USA.

At around 9:30 a.m., a female airline employee at a Frontier Airlines ticket counter informed Negash and Mercer that they were 45 minutes late so they could not board their flight to Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The two Durham residents argued with the employee.

Mercer allegedly hurled a plastic sign holder at the employee, which wounded the employee’s face. The employee was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami and treated for the injury.

“Don’t touch her!” Negash screamed at the police officers and positioned herself between them and Mercer. Both women were arrested.

Negash was charged with resisting arrest with violence and disorderly conduct while Mercer was charged with aggravated battery, resisting arrest with violence and disorderly conduct. They were booked into the Miami-Dade County Jail in Miami.

After posting $500 bond each, Negash and Mercer were released from jail. On February 23, 2023, the two Durham residents will be back in court in Florida.

Durham was incorporated on April 10, 1869. Elaine O’Neal, 60, is the incumbent mayor of the city.

Former Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter Abel Trujillo, 39, attended Riverside High School in Durham. Tennis player Patrick Kypson, 23, and National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing driver Tate Fogleman, 22, were born in Durham.