Dayla Chantel Swain was a 26-year-old mother of two who worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in her community of Anderson, Indiana. A graduate of Anderson High School, she was described as a cherished family member who loved spending time with her children, siblings, and cousins. Her life was cut short when she was caught in the crossfire of a targeted shooting.
In the pre-dawn hours of February 2, 2025, a violent ambush erupted outside Sonny Ray’s Café on South Madison Avenue.
Dayla, a Black female, was standing in the parking lot speaking to a man in a Ford F-150 pickup truck when multiple assailants opened fire. As bullets struck the truck, Dayla was hit in the chest by a stray round. The driver of the truck fled the chaotic scene and, in the process, accidentally ran over her legs. First responders found her injured in the roadway, and she was rushed to a hospital in Indianapolis, where she succumbed to her injuries. Two other women were also injured during the incident.
Investigators quickly determined that Dayla was an innocent bystander in a calculated murder plot. The man she had been speaking with was the intended target, a witness in a separate murder trial. Detectives concluded that members of the Mickey Cobra Nation street gang had conspired to travel to Anderson and assassinate the witness to prevent him from testifying.
The investigation led to the arrests of numerous individuals. Rashawn Darrius Samuels, 18, was identified as a primary suspect and was apprehended in Wisconsin before being extradited back to Indiana. Other teenagers, including 17-year-old Kyree M. Craver, 17-year-old Rejon Shamaud Smith, and 14-year-old Jo’Majze Larry, were also taken into custody and charged as adults. In total, several people were charged in the complex conspiracy that led to Dayla’s death.
In mid-2026, the cases moved through the court system, resulting in multiple convictions. Rashawn Samuels and Jo’Majze Larry were tried together and found guilty of murder and other charges in June 2026. Kyree Craver was convicted of murder in a separate trial that same year. In October 2026, a jury found Rejon Smith guilty of murder and related offenses after a six-day trial.
The sentences reflected the severity of the crime. Rashawn Samuels was sentenced to 125 years in prison. Jo’Majze Larry received a 100-year prison sentence, and Kyree Craver was sentenced to 90 years. As of October 2026, Rejon Smith was awaiting sentencing, which was scheduled for the following month.
