In October 2015, a violent incident occurred in the North Pointe neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri, resulting in the death of 39-year-old Karriem Floyd. Police officers were dispatched to the 5900 block of Goodfellow late at night following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Floyd suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to his pelvis, femur, and abdomen. Despite the emergency response, the injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation quickly focused on the victim's living situation, leading authorities to scrutinize those closest to him.
Detectives identified a suspect in the case as Christopher M. Smith, a man in his mid-twenties who shared an apartment with Floyd. Authorities believed the shooting stemmed from a domestic dispute within their shared residence. Smith was taken into custody in November 2015, shortly after the homicide, and remained jailed as prosecutors built their case against him. For nearly two years, the legal process moved forward, with Smith facing serious allegations including first-degree murder and armed criminal action.
The path to justice faced a significant hurdle in August 2017 when the trial was set to begin. The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office was forced to drop the murder charge against Smith due to issues with witness cooperation, a common challenge in homicide prosecutions that can derail cases moments before they go to court. The dismissal was temporary, however, as prosecutors worked rapidly to salvage the case. Just one day after the charges were dropped, prosecutor Kelly Moyich refiled the first-degree murder and armed criminal action counts, citing the necessity of holding the accused accountable for the death of his roommate. Following the reinstatement of charges, a judge set Smith's bail at $500,000 cash, ensuring he remained in detention while the legal proceedings recommenced.
