On March 19, 2016, the life of 35-year-old African American resident Brandon Ellington came to a tragic end in Saint Louis, Missouri. Ellington, a father of six, had recently moved back to the area from South Bend, Indiana, where he worked at a candy factory, wishing to be closer to his parents and his eldest children. On that Saturday afternoon, he had left his home to pick up medicine for his daughter but never returned. Police responded to a call around 2:55 p.m.
in the 3900 block of Lexington Avenue near Fairground Park, where they discovered Ellington suffering from fatal gunshot wounds.
Investigators determined that Ellington had been shot inside a vehicle parked at the scene before collapsing at the curb as he attempted to exit the car. The motive for the violence was allegedly robbery; family members stated that Ellington was carrying approximately $5,000 in cash from a recent tax return at the time of his death. The betrayal was particularly painful for the family, as the man accused of the crime was described as a friend whom Ellington had previously supported by providing meals and haircuts.
Authorities arrested 22-year-old Adonnis Smith in connection with the homicide. Smith was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action for his alleged role in the shooting. Following his arrest, he was held on a $500,000 cash-only bond. As of early 2017, Smith had pleaded not guilty to the charges and was awaiting trial, with the case highlighting the devastating impact of gun violence on families in the community.
