LAKE CITY, FL – The fatal shooting of a 12-year-old girl has led to the conviction of a second teenager, deepening the emotional wounds for a community still mourning the senseless act of violence. The guilty verdict brings another step toward justice for the family of Mariah Smith, who lost her life when a barrage of bullets tore through her home last August in what authorities say was an act of retaliation linked to a dispute involving her older brother.
A jury on Friday found Matthew Rice guilty of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder in the death of Mariah Smith, who was shot and killed while sitting on her couch in her Lake City home on August 24, 2023. The verdict follows the conviction of 17-year-old Jayden Burch on the same charges in August, while a third suspect, now 15-year-old Jatarious Rashad Fluellen, awaits trial.
Shortly after 9 p.m. that night, gunfire erupted on NW Long Street, riddling a home with more than 20 bullets. Officers responding to the scene found Mariah suffering from a gunshot wound to the head. Despite rapid arrival by emergency personnel, she died at the scene, leaving her family and neighborhood devastated.
Investigators recovered 25 shell casings and a firearm laser sight outside the property. Evidence pointed to the shooting as retaliation stemming from a dispute between Mariah’s older brother and the suspects—a conflict that allegedly spilled over from school.
During the investigation, police revealed Burch supplied firearms to his co-defendants before the three teens walked to the Smith residence and opened fire. Surveillance footage and witness statements helped piece together the timeline of the attack, and authorities apprehended the suspects in the following weeks.
Fluellen, the youngest of the group at 14 when the incident occurred, was arrested days after the shooting. Burch, then 15, was taken into custody in October, and Rice was indicted by a grand jury in February 2024.
A critical piece of evidence involved social media activity. According to testimony, Burch discussed the shooting through Instagram messages, going so far as to admit responsibility in one exchange. DNA collected from the laser sight left at the scene linked Rice directly to the crime, supporting the prosecution’s case.
Jurors reached a verdict in less than an hour, underscoring the impact of the evidence presented. Sentencing for Burch is set for Monday, with Rice scheduled to learn his fate in mid-November.
In the weeks following Mariah’s death, Lake City officials honored her memory by renaming the street where she lived to Reginae Smith Forever 12 Memorial Street, a symbol of the community’s collective grief and hope for change. Mariah’s mother, standing before a crowd at the dedication ceremony, expressed hope that her daughter’s legacy would serve as a catalyst for ending youth gun violence and sparing other families similar heartbreak.
As the third defendant awaits trial, residents continue to grapple with the sudden loss of a young life and the complicated circumstances that led to such a tragedy. The case remains a painful reminder of the consequences of armed conflict among youth and the pressing need for prevention in communities across the region.