On a late spring evening in La Plata, Maryland, the life of 18-year-old Jazmiah Zyri Nelson was tragically cut short. On May 22, 2021, at approximately 11:36 p.m., Nelson, a female, was enjoying a ride on a four-wheeler with two acquaintances near the townhouses in the 600 block of Pomonkey Way. The night was shattered by the sound of gunfire as an unknown assailant or assailants opened fire on the trio.
Struck in the upper body by a bullet, Nelson was critically injured.
She was quickly flown to a Baltimore hospital for emergency medical treatment. Despite the efforts of medical professionals, Jazmiah Zyri Nelson succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased several hours later. A second female who was with Nelson on the four-wheeler was grazed by a bullet and received treatment at a local hospital before being released. The third individual on the recreational vehicle was unharmed.
Detectives from the Charles County Sheriff's Office were quick to launch a homicide investigation. From the preliminary stages of their inquiry, investigators stated that they did not believe the shooting was a random act of violence. They have, however, remained tight-lipped about a potential motive or any persons of interest in the case. In the days following the shooting, law enforcement officials appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information to come forward.
To encourage potential witnesses, a cash reward was offered for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for Nelson's death. The initial reward was increased to $7,500 and later to $10,000. Despite the financial incentive and the passage of time, the case has grown cold. No suspects have been publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with the murder of Jazmiah Zyri Nelson. The investigation remains ongoing as her family and community continue to await justice.
