In the summer of 2019 in Meridian, Mississippi, the life of 28-year-old Ontario Drake was cut short in a fatal shooting. The incident, which police later described as the result of an ongoing dispute, unfolded on the 2000 block of 30th Avenue. While initial death notices reported his passing on July 12, 2019, at Rush Foundation Hospital, further investigation by law enforcement pinpointed the deadly altercation to July 15.
The investigation into Drake's death led to the arrest of 20-year-old Jayvion Smith, also of Meridian. Smith was subsequently charged in connection with the shooting. The U.S. Marshals apprehended Smith in July of that year. At the time of his arrest for the death of Drake, Smith was also facing two counts of capital murder related to a separate double homicide case.
The city of Meridian and the surrounding Lauderdale County experienced a total of 17 homicides in 2019, a notable increase from the previous year. The case concerning the death of Ontario Drake was one of fifteen homicides that occurred within the city limits that year, contributing to a growing concern over violent crime in the community. Police attributed many of these incidents, including the shooting of Drake, to ongoing disputes and domestic violence.
