In the summer of 2016, a male resident of the St. Louis area, 44-year-old Ian Rodney Smith, was fatally shot in a violent encounter. On the morning of August 3rd, police responded to reports of gunfire in Bellefontaine Neighbors. Their investigation led them to a home on Gardo Court, where they discovered Smith's body, bearing multiple gunshot wounds.
The investigation into the homicide was extensive, with the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis assisting the local police department.
Their collaborative efforts soon identified two persons of interest, 20-year-old Tradell Buckner and 18-year-old Jaymone Lewis. Authorities publicly identified the two men as armed and dangerous as the search for them intensified.
Within a short period, both Buckner and Lewis were apprehended and taken into custody. According to charging documents, the incident began as a robbery. It is alleged that Lewis approached Ian Smith, brandishing a firearm and demanding his property while Buckner waited in a nearby vehicle. The situation escalated when Buckner drove closer and fired shots, fatally wounding Smith. Both men were subsequently charged with second-degree murder, robbery, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action. A judge set their bond at $1,000,000, cash only.
