Blake was convicted of two felonious assault counts in the shooting death of her partner, Diamond Rice, and plans an appeal.
CINCINNATI, Ohio — A Hamilton County jury convicted Jasmine Blake of two counts of felonious assault with a gun specification in the fatal shooting of her partner, Diamond Rice, but acquitted Blake of the more serious charges of aggravated murder and murder.
The verdict Friday left Blake facing prison time but removed the possibility of a murder conviction in the Feb. 1 shooting in Cincinnati’s Walnut Hills neighborhood. Blake’s attorney, Clyde Bennett II, said she faces five to 11 years in prison on the felonious assault conviction and announced plans to appeal. Sentencing is expected in October.
Rice, 33, was shot in the 2300 block of May Street after an argument, according to police and court records. Officers responding to the shooting found Rice suffering from a gunshot wound. First responders attempted lifesaving measures, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Cincinnati police arrested Blake after investigators reviewed evidence from the scene, statements Blake made during 911 calls and witness accounts. Authorities said the evidence showed Blake used a handgun to shoot Rice during an argument. Blake and Rice were a couple and lived together, according to statements made during Blake’s initial court proceedings.
Blake’s defense raised a self-defense argument early in the case. Her attorney said after her arrest that Blake had marks on her face from an altercation and that her brother had been on a FaceTime call during part of the incident. Prosecutors disputed that the circumstances justified deadly force, saying investigators had no indication Rice was armed in a way that required such a response.
The jury ultimately rejected the murder charges while finding Blake guilty of felonious assault. Bennett said after the verdict that he had sought a complete acquittal and did not view the result as a victory despite the murder acquittals. He said the defense intends to challenge the remaining convictions on appeal.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich declined to comment on the verdict. The outcome came after Rice’s family had publicly called for accountability as the case approached trial. Her mother, Wanda Sommonds, said after the verdict that she remained dissatisfied because Blake was not convicted of murder.
Rice was a Baltimore native who worked as a youth advocate counselor and supported children involved in the justice system. Her family said she had moved to the Cincinnati area after doing youth advocacy work in Baltimore. Relatives and colleagues remembered her for helping young people and described her as deeply empathetic toward others.
The case now moves from the jury phase to sentencing. Blake is due back in court in October, when a judge is expected to determine her sentence on the felonious assault convictions. Her defense has said an appeal will follow.
Author note: Last updated September 26, 2026.