On a summer evening in Anderson, South Carolina, the life of 18-year-old Jerzie Unique Dejohnz Smith was cut short. The Black/African American male was shot and killed on June 27, 2019, inside the Stop-A-Minit convenience store located on East River Street. The incident, which occurred around 6 p.m., sent shockwaves through the local community. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, having sustained two gunshot wounds to the chest.
The Anderson County Coroner's Office subsequently ruled his death a homicide.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to a suspect, another 18-year-old named Christopher Omaree Armstrong. Authorities apprehended Armstrong shortly after the incident as he was walking down a nearby street. He was taken into custody by deputies from the Anderson County Sheriff's Office. According to reports, the shooting stemmed from an altercation between Armstrong and Smith that began inside the convenience store and escalated tragically.
Armstrong was charged with murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. It was revealed that he had been released from jail only ten days prior to the shooting, where he had been held on charges of unlawfully carrying a weapon and possession of ecstasy. During a court appearance, Armstrong was denied bail and was subsequently booked into the Anderson County Detention Center. Arrest warrants indicated that he admitted to shooting Smith in a statement. While the investigation into a definitive motive was ongoing, authorities stated they did not believe the shooting was gang-related.
