Fourth teen arrested on murder charge in Feb. 2 shooting
ANDERSON — An Illinois teenager was arrested Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio on charges of murder.
Rejon Shamaud Smith, 17, was arrested on preliminary charges of murder, attempted murder, reckless homicide, conspiracy to commit murder and a misdemeanor charge of child in possession of a firearm.
The state was given 72 hours to file formal charges against Smith.
He is the fourth teenager charged in the Feb. 2 shooting death of Dayla Swain in the 1500 block of South Madison Avenue.
The Madison County Prosecutor's Office previously filed murder charges against Rashawn Darrius Samuels, 18, 1200 block of West Ninth Street; Kyree M. Craver, 17, 2600 block of Meridian Street; and Jo'Maijze Larry, 14, 800 block of Sun Valley Drive.
Swain was shot and killed on the morning of Feb. 2 while talking to a witness in a murder trial outside of Sonny Ray's.
According to court documents, Swain was speaking to a man in a Ford F150 pickup truck when gunfire began to strike the truck. The man told police that as the gunfire started, he fled the scene.
The court documents include an allegation that Samuels is affiliated with the Mickey Cobra Nation, a 'criminal organization with ties originating in Chicago.' The documents state that Samuels' family are among the founding members of the organization.
The documents said there was a 'known dispute' between the Mickey Cobra Nation and the man who was reportedly driving the Ford F150.
Instead of killing the driver of the F150, the crossfire struck and killed Swain.
The F150 driver is a witness in the case and is not named in this story, in keeping with Herald Bulletin policy.
Police said Monday that the investigation of the Feb. 2 fatal shooting is ongoing 'and other persons of interest are being actively pursued.'
Smith is shown in a video recording with a handgun at the time of the incident.
A witness said after the shooting, several of the suspects arrived at his residence and appeared nervous, panicked and out of breath, mentioning that someone was shot.
According to a probable cause affidavit, it was believed that Samuels and several others were attempting to kill a witness in the murder trial of Donavan Harris.
Harris is charged with murder in connection with the shooting death of Jullian Craig, 15, on Nov. 24 during a drug deal.
Harris is also charged with dealing in a narcotic, armed robbery and criminal confinement with a deadly weapon.
He is scheduled to go on trial in Madison Circuit Court Division 1 on May 6.
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