A 15-year-old Anderson boy has been sentenced to 100 years in prison for the shooting death of 26-year-old Dayla Swain outside a local bar. The punishment closes one major chapter in a case that prosecutors said involved a planned attack, digital evidence and an effort to silence a witness.
WTHR reports that Jo’Majze Larry’s sentence includes 50 years for murder and a 50-year criminal organization enhancement. The aggregate sentence will be served at the Indiana Department of Correction, even though Larry was 14 when Swain was killed on Feb. 2, 2025.
According to the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office, a jury found Larry guilty in June of murder, attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, criminal organization activity and dangerous possession of a firearm. Larry and co-defendant Rashawn Samuels also admitted the criminal organization enhancement after the verdict.
Prosecutors Said Swain Was Not The Intended Target
WRTV reported that prosecutors described the shooting as an attempt to silence a key witness in another felony murder case. Investigators said Swain’s cousin, O’Terryon Johnson, was expected to testify against Donavan Harris, who was later convicted in a separate case.
WRTV also reported that prosecutors introduced Instagram and Snapchat exchanges showing the defendants allegedly planning the attack, watching Sonny Ray’s bar and discussing ways to avoid surveillance cameras. Investigators said Swain was shot shortly after 3 a.m. and was struck by a dark-colored Ford F-150 as it fled the area.
Swain’s obituary identified her as a mother of two, a certified nursing assistant and an Anderson High School graduate. She was pronounced dead at an Indianapolis hospital after officers found her injured in the street near the shooting scene.
The case had already drawn attention to the Anderson Police Department’s homicide investigation. Hoodline previously reported that Anderson detectives were recognized for work involving interviews, surveillance, evidence collection and cooperation across state lines.
Juvenile Sentence Can Still Face Future Review
Indiana law gives some people sentenced in adult court for crimes committed before age 18 an additional opportunity to petition for sentence modification after serving at least 20 years on a murder sentence. The Indiana Supreme Court explained that such a review is not automatic release, but a chance for a court to assess rehabilitation and the person’s capacity for reform.
Larry is not the only defendant facing a lengthy sentence in the case. Kyree Craver, 19, was sentenced to 90 years earlier this month, while Samuels is scheduled to be sentenced Thursday and faces a maximum possible sentence of 176 years, according to the Madison County Prosecutor’s Office.
