On March 23, 2023, a group of teenagers gathered behind an apartment complex in Bibb County to settle an ongoing personal dispute. What could have been a fistfight ended in the death of 16-year old Gregory Smith.
Zanaria Rashada came to that confrontation armed with a knife she regularly carried. When some members of the group refused to fight and walked away, Rashada and Smith remained.
During a heated exchange of words between both emotionally charged teenagers, Smith swung at Rashada, Rashada angrily swung the knife, stabbing Smith once in the chest. He died from his injuries.
Following a thorough review of the facts, evidence, and applicable law, the Macon Judicial Circuit determined that Voluntary Manslaughter was the most appropriate charge given the circumstances, and the most likely outcome had the case proceeded to trial.
Rashada has been held in custody since the day of the incident. On June 10, 2026, Rashada took accountability for her actions and entered a change of plea to guilty in the Superior Court of Bibb County.
She was sentenced to 20 years, to serve 15 in prison. Smith’s grandmother delivered a victim impact statement describing the crime as stupid and senseless.
She spoke of how deeply she misses her grandson and shared that she visits his grave regularly.
“A grandmother visits her grandson’s grave,” said District Attorney Anita Howard. “That is the real consequence of this kind of senseless violence.
Our office took every factor into account in pursuing justice in this case.
I believe a just criminal justice system can hold young people accountable for the harm they cause without throwing them away, and that is exactly what we did here.”