Diamond Rice

Diamond Rice was a 33-year-old White woman described by her mother as "everybody's sunshine on a cloudy day." A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Rice had moved to Cincinnati about a year before her death. After a troubled youth, she had turned her life around and dedicated herself to helping others, serving as an assistant director for Hamilton County's youth advocate programs. Her father called her "very strong, very beautiful... resilient," and a director at her organization said she was a "powerful force" who proudly shared her personal story to help at-risk youth.

On the night of February 1, 2026, an argument at a Walnut Hills apartment ended in tragedy. Cincinnati police officers responded to the 2300 block of May Street for a report of a shooting around 10:15 p.m. When they arrived, they found Diamond Rice suffering from a gunshot wound. Emergency crews attempted life-saving measures, but Rice died from her injuries at the scene. Her father said he had spoken to her just two hours earlier about a disagreement she was having.

The investigation quickly led police to Jasmine Blake, 31, who was identified as Rice's partner and lived with her in the apartment. Blake was arrested early the next morning and charged with murder. According to court documents, investigators based the charge on evidence from the crime scene, witness accounts, and statements Blake made during 911 calls. She was booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center, and a judge ordered her held on a $750,000 bond.

In court, conflicting accounts of the incident emerged. Blake's defense attorney argued that the shooting was an act of self-defense, claiming Blake was being attacked during the altercation and had marks on her face. During a 911 call, Blake reportedly told dispatchers that Rice was going to kill her. However, prosecutors countered that police found no indication that Rice was armed in a way "that would necessitate use of deadly force," nor did they observe significant injuries to Blake that would justify using a gun.

Seven months after Diamond Rice's death, the case moved forward. Jury selection for Jasmine Blake's murder trial began in September 2026. At trial, Blake maintained her claim that she had acted in self-defense. As of September 2026, the case was proceeding through the court system.