Assassination of Cottonmouth

"I did not want it!"

- Black Mariah

The Assassination of Cottonmouth was an unplanned attack by Black Mariah, who single-handedly murdered Cottonmouth out of blind anger.

Background
As Luke Cage was single-handedly giving strong blows against their criminal empire, Cottonmouth and Black Mariah met at Harlem's Paradise to discuss it. However, the angry conversation quickly turned to their troubled family history, where Stokes snidely remarked that she wanted it all to happen.

Assassination
Immediately angered by his remark, Dillard proceeded to angrily grab a glass bottle and slam him in the head with it, and then forcefully shove him out the window to the lower floor. As a weakened and shocked Stokes attempted to crawl to safety, Dillard began to yell repeatedly that she did not want it, as she took a microphone stand and continued beating him to death with it.

Aftermath
Shades arrived to the situation just as Dillard had finished beating him to death. He managed to convince her it she did it with good intentions, and proceeded to further beat up the body to put the blame on Luke Cage.

Hearing the news, Diamondback decided to return to Harlem to take over the criminal empire and finally murder Cage.

As Cage was sent on the run, eventually Candace Miller, who witnessed the event, confessed Dillard was the real killer which led to her eventual arrest. However, she still managed to get herself out of prison when the police couldn't get enough evidence.