Nicole Florencia Smith, a 32-year-old resident of Manchester, California, tragically lost her life in a drive-by shooting on November 19, 2017. Nicole was at her sister's home on the Manchester Rancheria, a tribal land of the Manchester Band of the Pomo Indians, when the incident occurred. The early morning hours were shattered by gunfire that pierced the walls of the home, striking Nicole and causing her to bleed to death in front of her family, including her 10-year-old son.
Despite the immediate response from her family, Nicole succumbed to her injuries, experiencing a seizure and bleeding out on the floor.
The investigation into Nicole's death has been fraught with challenges. Initially, Roman Soto, a 28-year-old man, was arrested as a person of interest in the case. Soto had a history of criminal activity, including assault with a deadly weapon and evasion. However, due to insufficient evidence linking him directly to the murder, he was released shortly after his arrest. Soto's involvement in subsequent criminal activities, including an armed robbery in Cloverdale, has kept him in the spotlight, but no concrete evidence has emerged to conclusively tie him to Nicole's murder.
The case remains unsolved, with Nicole's family continuing to seek justice and answers. The Mendocino County Sheriff's Office has not made any further arrests, and the investigation is still open. The community and Nicole's family have made numerous appeals for information, hoping that someone will come forward with details that could lead to the resolution of this tragic case. Despite the passage of time, the pain of Nicole's loss is still deeply felt by her loved ones, who remember her as a vibrant and loving mother dedicated to her Native American heritage and community.
