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Dametirus "Meechie" McClain-Jackson, 20 of Coatesville was found shot in the area of Madison Street and Lime Street on August 23, 2023. He was taken to Paoli Hospital where he was pronounced dead, and autopsy later determined the cause to be a gunshot wound to the torso and the manner was a homicide, as detailed in the joint DA and police release.
Richard Rochester-Cottle, Victor Lara-Ortiz, Garry White, Zaire Harley, Markel Jones, and the child are all currently in custody and pending trial on charges of First Degree Murder, Conspiracy, and related offenses in connection with the slaying of McClain-Jackson. The child will be charged as an adult, according to the release. All have been denied bail due to state law on the charges.
Investigators interviewed witnesses and discovered McClain-Jackson had been traveling with the six defendants in a stolen vehicle "searching for a rival and his friends in response to an Instagram post about a prior shooting," as stated in the release.
McClain-Jackson, Rochester-Cottle, White, and Lara-Ortiz all exited the vehicle with guns raised and "upon seeing their rivals in the driveway, the group began to shoot," according to the release.
White then fled on foot, and Rochester-Cottle, and Lara-Ortiz returned to the stolen vehicle, that's when the group discovered McClain-Jackson had been shot.
Meechie was a member of the Lycoming College football team, "a dedicated worker at Mainline Health", and a volunteer at the Coatesville YWCA at the time of his passing, according to his obituary.
City of Coatesville Chief of Police Jack Laufer said in part, “Retaliatory shootings over past disputes or perceived transgressions between individuals or groups, will not be tolerated by the Coatesville Police Department and the good citizens of the City of Coatesville. Those who participate in these crimes will be identified, arrested, and prosecuted. The redevelopment of our City will not be derailed by the criminal actions of a few.”
The cases will be heard by the Honorable Alita A. Rovito of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas with Chief of Investigations Andrea Cardamone assigned as prosecutor.
This was a joint investigation by Chester County Detectives and the Coatesville Police Department. Other agencies assisting include the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), the Delaware State Police, the Bucks County Detectives, the Bethel Township Police Department, and the Tulpehocken Township Police Department.
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