Anderson teen sentenced to 100 years in prison for 2025 shooting

ANDERSON, Ind. (WISH) — The Madison County Prosecutor’s Office announced Wednesday a judge sentenced Jo’Majze Larry, 15, to 100 years in prison at the Indiana Department of Correction.

Larry was convicted of multiple felonies and a misdemeanor in connection with the shooting death of Dayla Swain outside Sonny Ray’s in Anderson on February 2, 2025.

Larry was convicted on five criminal counts:

• Murder, a felony.
• Attempted murder, a level 1 felony.
• Conspiracy to commit murder. a level 2 felony
• Criminal organization activity, a level 5 felony.
• dangerous possession of a firearm, a Class A misdemeanor.

Following the verdict, Larry admitted to the criminal organization enhancement, the prosecutor’s office said.

At sentencing, Judge David Happe sentenced Larry to 50 years for murder enhanced by an additional 50 years for the criminal organization enhancement for a total of 100 years.

The prosecutor’s office wanted to remind the public that under Indiana law, the criminal organization enhancement is designed to address crimes committed by individuals acting as part of an organized criminal enterprise rather than as isolated offenders. The office said state law “recognizes that criminal organizations pose a greater threat to public safety because they coordinate criminal activity, recruit others to participate in crime and often commit offense for financial gain or to further the goals of the organization.”

Because Larry was under the age of 18 when this murder happened, he has a chance to seek judicial review of his sentence “after a significant period of incarceration. He can file a petition for sentence modification after serving at least 20 years. That does not include any credit time earned for good behavior or educational programs, the prosecutor’s office said.

Larry’s co-defendant in this case, Rashawn Samuels, is scheduled to be sentenced on Thursday. He faces as maximum possible sentence of 176 years.

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