05-04-2025
Formal murder charge filed against Illinois teenager
ANDERSON — Formal charges have been filed against an Illinois teenager who was arrested Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio, in connection with a shooting in Anderson.
Rejon Shamaud Smith, 17, was charged Friday with murder, attempted murder, reckless homicide, conspiracy to commit murder and a misdemeanor charge of child in possession of a firearm.
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 in killed early on the morning of Feb. 2 while talking to a witness in a murder trial outside of Sonny Ray's.
Court documents state that Swain was speaking to a man in a Ford F150 pickup truck when gunfire struck the vehicle. The man told police that as the gunfire started, he fled the scene.
The court documents allege that Samuels is affiliated with the Mickey Cobra Nation, a 'criminal organization with ties originating in Chicago.' The documents state that Samuels' family are founding members of the organization.
According to the documents, 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, 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.
The formal charge of aiding or causing murder states that Smith intentionally attempted to kill a witness in a pending murder case against Donavan Harris.
The conspiracy charge indicates that Smith was involved in planning to kill the witness between July 1, 2023 and the time of Swain's death.
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 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 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 charged with murder, dealing in 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.
