John Wesley Smith III, 37, was found outside Swifty’s Tavern on Perrine Street in Auburn, New York, in the early morning of March 15, 2022. Police discovered he had sustained a fatal gunshot wound; several people who had been at or near the scene scattered before officers arrived, and investigators sought witnesses.

Attention in the investigation focused on a woman identified as Shameek Marie Copes, also known by the aliases Skrizzy, Scrappy, and Sckrap. A warrant charging her with second-degree murder was issued, and after a multi-state search she surrendered to police in Rock Hill, South Carolina and was extradited to New York. Prosecutors said the weapon was a 9 mm ghost gun and that three rounds were fired at point-blank range; the gun was allegedly discarded in a nearby storm drain after the shooting. Two other people were charged in connection with the incident, one of whom pleaded guilty.

At trial, the jury convicted Copes of second-degree murder and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. In April 2023 a Cayuga County judge imposed the maximum sentence of 25 years to life; her attorney announced an intent to appeal. Does anyone have information about Smith’s last known movements or the people who were at Swifty’s Tavern that night?