Summary based on the NamUs case record (MP133929)
In the autumn of 2024, a family's concern grew into a formal investigation when 17-year-old Tashard Smith, a Black / African American male, was reported missing. He was last seen in St. Cloud, Florida, on November 7, 2024. On that day, Tashard reportedly left his residence with the intention of visiting a friend's house, but he never made it back home. His family and the community were left with unanswered questions about his whereabouts and well-being.
The Kissimmee Police Department was tasked with the investigation into the teenager's sudden disappearance, a situation that would remain unresolved for well over a year.
As the weeks and months passed, the search for Tashard continued. Details surrounding his disappearance were scarce, leaving loved ones to hope for his safe return. Unbeknownst to those searching for the missing teen, a separate and serious criminal investigation was unfolding in the same county. Just eight days after Tashard was last seen, on November 15, 2024, deputies from the Osceola County Sheriff's Office responded to what was initially reported as a car crash in Kissimmee. Upon arrival, they discovered 20-year-old Kashorn Armand deceased in the driver's seat of a vehicle, having sustained multiple gunshot wounds. Investigators quickly determined that this was not a random act but a premeditated homicide linked to organized gang activity.
The two cases would eventually intersect as homicide detectives spent months processing evidence and following leads in the death of Kashorn Armand. Their extensive investigation ultimately led them to identify three suspects, one of whom was Tashard Smith, who was 17 at the time of the incident. In January 2026, a grand jury indicted Smith and two other individuals, Sincere McKenzie and Cornelius Walls, on charges of first-degree murder with gang enhancements. Official reports from law enforcement indicate that on February 3, 2026, Tashard Smith was located and arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service. The case, which began as a missing person report for a 17-year-old boy who had vanished after leaving for a friend's house, concluded with his location under deeply troubling circumstances. The search for Tashard ended not with a simple reunion, but with his arrest in connection with a serious and violent crime.Last Seen: Nov 7, 2024
