She Was Killed In A Botched Hit. Another Defendant Just Got 125 Years.

On February 2, 2025, at around 3:00 a.m., officers responded to Sonny Ray’s Café at 1500 South Madison Avenue in Anderson, Indiana, for a report of a shooting. Upon arrival, they found a woman suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest. She was transported to Community Hospital, where she later died.

The victim was identified as 26-year-old Dayla Swain.

Investigators said Swain had been speaking with a man inside a blue Ford F-150 when gunfire erupted in the parking lot.

The man inside the truck was allegedly the intended target of a plot designed to prevent him from testifying against Donavan Harris in an unrelated murder case.

In November 2023, Harris and Julian Craig attempted to rob the man while the three were inside a vehicle.

Craig pointed a gun at the man, leading to an exchange of gunfire that left Craig dead.

Harris was later charged with felony murder because Craig was killed during the attempted robbery.

As Harris’ case moved toward trial, prosecutors said members of Mickey Cobra Nation, a criminal organization with ties to Chicago, conspired to kill the witness.

During the February 2025 shooting, Swain was struck in the crossfire instead.

Surveillance footage showed Swain walking with difficulty as the Ford F-150 fled the parking lot and ran over her legs.

Pole cameras near the café reportedly captured muzzle flashes coming from the north and south sides of the parking lot.

Investigators later recovered the truck with its rear window shot out and multiple bullet holes in the passenger door, windshield and driver’s side.

Detectives recovered 12 spent 9mm shell casings and a spent .45-caliber extended handgun magazine containing 14 rounds of ammunition.

Eight people were implicated in the alleged plot, including Ja’Brawll Thomas, Kyree Craver, Jo’Majze Larry, Rashawn Samuels, Rejon Smith, Geno Moffett, Javeayon Johnson and Javeaian Johnson.

Following the shooting, Larry and Samuels fled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Samuels was arrested in Milwaukee, while Larry, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, later surrendered to Anderson police.

Because Larry was a juvenile, his parents had filed a missing-person report after he disappeared.

Investigators later discovered a social media post allegedly made by Larry stating, “I’m not coming back till this murder case ova.”

In June 2026, Larry and Samuels were convicted of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder and criminal organization activity.

Larry was also convicted of dangerous possession of a firearm.

On July 10, 2026, Craver was sentenced to 90 years in prison, including 45 years for murder and an additional 45 years under a criminal organization enhancement.

On July 29, 2026, 15-year-old Jo’Majze Larry was sentenced to 50 years for murder.

The judge added another 50 years under a criminal organization enhancement, bringing Larry’s total sentence to 100 years in prison.

Under Indiana law, Larry may petition to have his sentence modified after serving at least 20 years. The law does not guarantee that his request will be granted.

On July 30, 2026, 19-year-old Rashawn Samuels was sentenced to 125 years in prison.

Thomas is scheduled to stand trial on November 13, 2026.

The trials for Javeayon and Javeaian Johnson are scheduled to begin on September 28, 2026.

Court records did not list a sentencing date for Smith, who appeared at a rescheduling conference on July 14.

Moffett remains wanted.

On July 28, 2026, Harris was sentenced to 60 years for the 2023 robbery that led to Craig’s death.