In the early hours of Christmas Eve 2018, in Mobile, Alabama, the life of 15-year-old Jakorian Lavelle Smith was tragically cut short. A bullet, fired from outside his family's apartment, struck the sleeping teenager, ending a life filled with promise. Jakorian, a male student at Blount High School, was a member of the JROTC and the school's football team.
He was not the intended target of the violence that erupted that morning.
The events leading to Jakorian's death began with a dispute involving India Nelson. Following a physical altercation with Jakorian's older sister, Nelson, accompanied by Rory Smith, drove to the apartment complex. There, Nelson slashed the tires of the sister's car before firing multiple shots into the apartment, one of which fatally wounded Jakorian.
Law enforcement quickly identified India Nelson and Rory Smith as the individuals responsible. They were both arrested and subsequently charged with capital murder. During her trial, evidence was presented that established Nelson as the shooter. Rory Smith, who had a cooperation agreement with the state, testified against her, detailing their actions on the morning of the shooting.
In May 2021, a jury found India Nelson guilty of capital murder. She was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. While Rory Smith was also charged in connection with the murder and testified during Nelson's trial, information regarding the final outcome of the charges against him is not publicly available.
