In the late hours of a December night in West Plains, Missouri, a residence on Seventh Street became the scene of a tragedy that cut short a young life. On December 18, 2020, at approximately 11:32 p.m., the West Plains Police Department received a distressing call reporting shots fired and a possible gunshot victim. Officers were dispatched to the scene, where they entered the home and made a grim discovery.
Inside the residence, they found 18-year-old Christian Gabriel Lee
Smedley-Atterberry. He was deceased, having suffered an apparent gunshot wound to his head. The young man's next of kin were subsequently notified of the devastating loss.
As the investigation into the shooting began, the West Plains Police Department worked to piece together the events that led to Christian's death. While the inquiry was active and ongoing, authorities reassured the public, stating they were confident that there was no broader danger to the community related to the incident. Further details regarding any potential suspects or the circumstances surrounding the shooting were not immediately released as the investigation continued.
