On Tuesday, Marion County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) Detective Michael Fredette arrested 14-year-old Kydris Jackson in connection with the December 2023 murder of 19-year-old Griffin Smith.
The case began on December 2, 2023, when deputies responded to reports of a possible vehicle accident behind the Marion Oaks Community Center at 294 Marion Oaks Lane in Ocala. Upon arrival, they discovered Smith inside a white pickup truck, suffering from gunshot wounds. Smith was transported to the hospital but later died from his injuries.
An investigation led by Major Crimes Detective Sergeant Daniel Pinder revealed that Smith had arranged to meet Jackson at the Dollar General on Marion Oaks Boulevard to purchase a firearm. During the encounter, Jackson reportedly fired shots at Smith’s vehicle as he attempted to drive away. Smith’s truck ultimately came to a stop in a nearby tree line, where deputies located him. The firearm involved in the transaction was recovered from Smith’s vehicle.
Subsequent investigations uncovered that Jackson had been arrested in Alachua County on December 13, 2023, for fleeing deputies in a stolen vehicle while in possession of a firearm. Witness statements, DNA evidence, and additional investigative techniques connected Jackson to Smith’s death. Despite an attempted interview with detectives on November 14, 2024, Jackson declined to provide a statement.
Jackson was formally charged with the murder while already in custody at the Marion County Regional Juvenile Detention Center, where he remains.
