Staff Reports
The second arrest was made on Wednesday in the death of 12-year-old Mariah Smith who was shot at a NW Long Street residence in August.
According to a Lake City Police Department (LCPD) release, officers took Jayden Tyler Burch, 15, into custody and charged him with murder.
The incident took place on Aug. 24 when LCPD officers were dispatched to NW Long Street at 9:06 p.m. to the report of a person shot. When they arrived, they found Smith, who had been sitting on a couch, suffering from a gunshot wound after shots had been fired through the house. The 12-year-old girl would succumb to her injuries.
On Aug. 28, LCPD arrested and charged 14-year-old Jatarious Rashad Fluellen with murder.
According to the release, LCPD investigators have put in long hours over the past seven weeks as they sought out and interviewed persons with possible information, along with processing evidence and delivering it to labs for comparison. Following interviews and the results of the evidence, investigators traveled to Miami to continue interviews. That is where investigators developed probable cause to make a second arrest in this case.
“I am extremely pleased with the efforts put forth by investigators from the Lake City Police Department, State Attorney’s Office along with agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement who have been working this case. These men and women have tirelessly worked this case,” said Lake City Chief of Police Gerald Butler in the release. “I would like to thank the community for its support and assistance in providing valuable information during this investigation. The tragic loss of Mariah has deeply impacted us all, and we continue to work diligently to identify and arrest all those involved in her murder”.
Anyone having information regarding this incident is asked to contact the Lake City Police Department at 386-752-4343.