15-Year-Old Boy Gets 100-Year Jail Term for Gang-Related Murder in US

A court in the United States has sentenced a 15-year-old boy to 100 years in prison for his role in a gang-related shooting that claimed the life of a woman and left two others injured in Indiana.

Jo’Majze Larry, from Anderson, Indiana, received the sentence on Wednesday after appearing before Madison County Circuit Court Judge David Happe.

Larry was one of four members of the Mickey Cobra Nation (MCN) gang charged over the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Dayla Swain.

According to prosecutors, the incident occurred on February 2, 2025, outside Sonny Ray’s nightclub in Anderson, near Indianapolis. Investigators said the attack was part of a failed plot to kill a witness connected to another homicide case.

Larry and his co-defendant, 19-year-old Rashawn Samuels, were found guilty by a jury on June 30. Following their convictions, both admitted to an enhanced charge of participating in a criminal organisation.

Judge Happe sentenced Larry to 50 years for the murder of Swain and another 50 years for the criminal organisation enhancement, bringing his total prison term to 100 years.

Samuels received a longer sentence of 125 years, made up of 62½ years for murder and an additional 62½ years for the criminal organisation enhancement.

In a statement, prosecutors said Indiana law imposes tougher penalties on members of criminal organisations because such groups coordinate criminal activities, recruit others into crime, and often commit offences to advance the interests of the organisation.

Both Larry and Samuels were also convicted of attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

Another gang member, 19-year-old Kyree Craver, was convicted separately for Swain’s murder earlier this year and was sentenced to 90 years in prison on July 9.

A fourth suspect is expected to stand trial later this year.

Investigators linked the shooting to the 2023 killing of 15-year-old Jullian Craig during an attempted armed robbery. Donavan Harris, 20, was convicted in June for Craig’s murder.

Prosecutors said Craig’s death prompted Larry, Samuels and other gang members to allegedly plot the assassination of a witness connected to the case. However, the plan failed when Swain was mistakenly shot and killed outside the nightclub.

Although Larry received a 100-year sentence, Indiana law gives offenders who committed crimes before turning 16 the opportunity to seek judicial review of their sentence after serving at least 20 years. This means the teenager could have his sentence reconsidered in the future, despite the lengthy prison term.

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