In the quiet community of Saucier, Mississippi, the life of 16-year-old LaZarius Smith was tragically cut short in December 2021. His body was discovered on the roadside near Posey Bridge Road and Mississippi 15, the victim of what authorities would describe as an execution-style slaying. The young man, a resident of Gulfport, had been fatally shot in a field known to be a local spot for target shooting.
The investigation into the death of the male teenager swiftly led Harrison County Sheriff's deputies to two suspects: 21-year-old Johnte Vidal Pouerie of Greely, Colorado, and a 14-year-old from Gulfport. Investigators uncovered that on the day of his death, LaZarius was picked up by Pouerie and the teen to go target shooting. The girlfriend of the victim later confirmed this arrangement to the authorities. Social media played a crucial role in the investigation, as authorities found posts and videos linking the suspects to a rap group known as “Wicked,” which was allegedly involved in criminal activities involving guns and drugs. Videos showed the suspects handling firearms and wearing ski masks that matched those found on them at the time of their arrest by U.S. Marshals.
Johnte Pouerie and his teenage accomplice were both charged with first-degree murder, with bail for each set at $1 million. In a separate incident just a week before the murder, Pouerie was also accused of shooting at a car occupied by his baby daughter and the child's mother. Further investigation led to the arrest of a third individual, 19-year-old Damari Demonti Daniels of Gulfport, who was charged with accessory after the fact for allegedly assisting the murder suspects before their capture.
In March 2024, Johnte Pouerie pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of LaZarius Smith. He admitted to shooting Smith after an argument over the death of a friend in April 2021. As part of a plea deal, Pouerie was sentenced to 40 years in prison for the murder, with an additional 20 years for an aggravated assault charge related to the earlier shooting incident. He is expected to serve 25 years of the sentence. The murder weapon was never recovered.
