Darryl ‘Tarzan’ Smith, a 29-year-old man from Brooklyn, New York, was fatally shot and killed on August 13, 2020. The incident that claimed his life unfolded in what was described as a brazen daytime shooting. Smith was reportedly sitting in a car near Grand Army Plaza when the tragic event occurred. An investigation into the matter led to the arrest of a 15-year-old male, who was subsequently charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon.
Remembered by his loved ones as a
caring and beloved individual, Darryl Smith was a father to two children. His sister, Laticia Smith, described him as a very loving person who would readily give the shirt off his back to someone in need. Beyond his family life, Smith was deeply passionate about Mixed Martial Arts and was dedicated to training and mentoring others in the sport. His sudden and violent death sent ripples of grief and shock through his community.
The investigation into Smith's death was handled by the New York Police Department. Following a thorough inquiry into the circumstances of the shooting, which revealed he had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, his death was officially ruled a homicide. The subsequent arrest of the teenage suspect brought a sense of partial closure to the grieving family, though the motive behind the shooting was not made immediately clear as the investigation continued. The case highlighted the persistent issue of gun violence affecting communities in Brooklyn and the involvement of youth in such violent crimes.
