On the evening of May 19, 2021, a tragedy unfolded on Laurel Fort Meade Road in Laurel, Maryland, that claimed the lives of 33-year-old Latisha Montia Adams, a Black female, and her unborn child. Adams, who was approximately five months pregnant, was the front passenger in a vehicle driven by her boyfriend. In the back seat sat 48-year-old Ronald William Smith, who was handling a handgun.
As Smith manipulated the firearm, it discharged, sending a single round through the passenger seat
and striking Adams. In the chaotic moments that followed, her boyfriend and Smith attempted to render aid, but their vehicle crashed into the median. When Anne Arundel County Police arrived at the scene around 10:56 p.m., they found Adams lying near the crashed car. She was rushed to a local hospital but was pronounced deceased, along with her unborn child.
Ronald William Smith was taken into custody at the scene and subsequently charged with manslaughter, first-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and several firearm-related offenses. He stated to investigators that the shooting was an accident. Smith was incarcerated at the Anne Arundel County Detention Center and held without bond. The tragic incident prompted Adams' family to create a GoFundMe page to assist with funeral expenses for both her and her unborn baby.
