A summer evening drive in Florissant, Missouri, turned tragic for 21-year-old Darnell Smith, leaving him clinging to life for nearly two months before succumbing to his injuries. On July 28, 2015, Smith was behind the wheel near the intersection of New Halls Ferry and Parker Road. In the vehicle with him were two passengers, one of whom would tragically cut his life short.
The individual seated directly behind Smith suddenly produced a firearm and shot him in the back of the head.
The brazen act stunned the other passenger, who bravely struggled with the gunman for control of the weapon. In the ensuing chaos, the shooter managed to break free and fled the scene, leaving a wake of disbelief and horror. The second passenger was thankfully unharmed. Smith was rushed to a local hospital, where he remained in critical condition, fighting a battle he would ultimately lose.
Darnell Corey Smith passed away on Sunday, September 13, 2015, as a direct result of the gunshot wound he sustained that July day. His death prompted an immediate response from law enforcement, who had already identified a suspect in the senseless shooting.
The investigation led to the arrest of 21-year-old Bryson Evans. Following Smith's death, the charges against Evans were upgraded. He was charged with one count of second-degree murder, one count of first-degree assault, and two counts of armed criminal action. A judge ordered Evans to be held on a $500,000 cash-only bond as he awaited legal proceedings for his alleged role in the death of Darnell Smith.
