The trial of a 17-year-old accused of killing a 12-year-old girl during a drive-by shooting in Lake City began Tuesday with opening statements from both sides.
Prosecutors say Jayden Burch is responsible for the August 2023 death of Mariah Smith after firing multiple rounds into a home on Northwest Long Street. Mariah was inside the house with family members when the shooting occurred.
Burch is the cousin of Mariah’s older brother, 15-year-old Todrion Jenkins. According to prosecutors, the attack was an act of retaliation following a school fight earlier that day involving Jenkins. The altercation led to his suspension and removal from the football team, sparking tensions between the families.
During opening arguments, prosecutors claimed that Burch later bragged about the killing on social media. They said he sent a message on Instagram saying that “Todrion’s sister” had died, adding a smiling emoji. When asked how he knew, Burch allegedly replied, “I know, I did it.”
The defense countered by telling jurors that Burch was at home in the same neighborhood at the time of the shooting. His attorney emphasized that prosecutors must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, urging the jury to focus on facts rather than speculation.
As the trial continued, the prosecution called several witnesses, including the responding police officer whose body camera captured the aftermath of the shooting. In emotional testimony, the officer described performing CPR on Mariah and the desperate effort to save her life.
Jenkins also took the stand, recalling the moment gunfire erupted. He testified that he dropped to the floor as bullets tore through the house. “I tried to cover Mariah,” he said, describing how he shielded his sister during the chaos. Tragically, she was struck before he could protect her.
Their grandmother, Deidre Filer, was also home during the shooting and gave a tearful account of the moments that followed. “I said, ‘What are you dropping in there?’ [Jenkins] says, ‘Nana, they’re shooting up the house.’ I say, ‘Get on the floor, get on the floor,’” Filer testified.
Prosecutors presented forensic evidence, including a firearm accessory recovered near the scene that they say contains Burch’s DNA. The trial is expected to conclude on Wednesday afternoon.
Months after Mariah’s death, Lake City officials renamed the street where she was killed to honor her memory, designating it Mariah Reginae Smith Forever 12 Memorial Street—a tribute to the young girl whose life was tragically cut short.