In the spring of 2021, a Bronx community was shaken by the sudden and violent death of a local business owner. Robert Smith, a 40-year-old male, had recently realized his dream of opening his own establishment, the RMM Lounge. Tragically, just two weeks after its grand opening, his life was cut short in a fatal shooting outside his business. The incident unfolded on the evening of Wednesday, May 5, 2021, in front of the lounge located at 658 Dawson Street in the Mott Haven neighborhood.
As Robert Smith was closing up for the night at approximately 9:50 p.m., an assailant approached him from behind and opened fire. He sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his head and back. Emergency medical services were dispatched to the scene and transported him to NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced deceased at the hospital. Smith, a resident of the Williamsbridge neighborhood, was not only a new business owner but also a father, leaving behind three sons. Those in the community remembered him as a polite and excited entrepreneur.
The New York Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the homicide. In the initial stages, they reported that the gunman was seen wearing a red sweater and had fled the scene on foot. For several months, the case remained under active investigation.
A significant breakthrough came on September 16, 2021, when authorities announced an arrest in connection with the murder. James Martin, a 44-year-old resident of Queens, was taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon for his alleged role in the killing of Robert Smith. The investigation by the NYPD's 41st Precinct was ongoing following the arrest.
