In a surprising turn of events, the Jefferson County State’s Attorney’s Office announced on Monday that they have dropped charges against a woman in relation to a mass shooting that occurred in Mount Vernon over the weekend, leaving two people dead and five injured.
The woman, 22-year-old Jerria J. Smith from Mount Vernon, had faced charges for reckless discharge of a firearm and obstruction of justice. However, during a hearing held on Monday afternoon, a judge agreed to the state’s attorney’s request to dismiss the case “without prejudice,” as stated in court documents.
This dismissal leaves the possibility open for the case to be reopened against Smith in the future.
Unfortunately, no defense attorney for Smith was mentioned in the court records. A representative for Jefferson County State’s Attorney Sean Featherstun declined to provide comments on the dismissal.
Efforts to reach someone from the Mount Vernon Police Department for comments were unsuccessful.
Meanwhile, Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Bullard reported that Smith was in the process of being released from the county jail on Monday afternoon.
The mass shooting, which is still under investigation, reportedly occurred during a gathering of about 100 to 150 people early Sunday morning. Mayor John Lewis stated in a press release that the police are encountering a lack of cooperation from those at the gathering when the gunfire erupted.
Details regarding the circumstances that led to the shooting remain scarce.
Victims identified as Zomarrius Williams, 20, from Mount Vernon, and 26-year-old Demonta Woodward from Mounds, tragically lost their lives in the incident reported around 12:49 a.m. in the 600 block of South 15th Street, according to a news release from the Mount Vernon Police Department.
Currently, the conditions of the five individuals who were injured have not been disclosed.
Authorities encourage anyone who may have information about the shooting to reach out to the Mount Vernon Police Department at 618-242-2132 or CrimeStoppers at 618-242-8477 (TIPS).
Williams, affectionately known as “Zo,” was a recent graduate of the 2023 Jefferson County CEO program, which focuses on offering entrepreneurship training. The CEO program expressed their condolences: “Zo was known for his unforgettable energy, radiant smile, and his genuine kindness towards everyone. His presence made a significant impact on the CEO program, his peers, and the entire community.”
In response to the violence, a “prayer for peace” event will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Monday at The Commons, located across the street from the courthouse at 100 S. 10th St.
