Darius Smith, a 15-year-old teenager from Pasadena, California, tragically lost his life on May 27, 2017, following an incident involving an off-duty U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer in Arcadia. On the evening of May 26, Smith, along with two other boys aged 14 and 15, was riding the Gold Line Metro Rail with plans to attend the Monrovia Street Fair. The boys disembarked at the Arcadia station, trailing behind a plainclothes federal officer who was carrying a backpack and another bag. According to the officer's account, the boys assaulted him and attempted to rob him at gunpoint approximately a quarter of a mile from the station. In response, the officer drew his duty weapon and fired, striking Smith and the 14-year-old boy. Smith succumbed to his injuries the following day, having been shot four times—twice in the chest and twice in the buttocks.
The incident sparked significant controversy and public outcry, particularly from Smith's family and community members who questioned the officer's actions and the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Surveillance footage reportedly supported the officer's version of events, showing the boys following him and one of them, identified as Smith, pointing a BB gun at the officer's face. The officer, who was listening to music through headphones at the time, claimed he acted in self-defense after being struck in the head multiple times. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department corroborated this account, stating that the officer fired seven shots in total, hitting Smith and one of his companions. The third boy fled the scene but was later apprehended.
Despite the officer's assertion of self-defense, Smith's family and their attorney, Lee Merritt, argued that the shooting was unjustified and amounted to an execution. Merritt contended that Smith was shot twice in the legs, causing him to fall, and then shot three more times in the chest while on the ground. This claim was vehemently denied by law enforcement officials, who maintained that the officer's actions were justified given the perceived threat. The investigation into the shooting included witness statements and DNA tests on the BB gun found near Smith's body to determine if it had been in his possession.
The case did not result in any charges against the officer, who was treated for facial bruises and released from a nearby hospital. The officer, who worked at San Francisco International Airport, had been with the agency for two years and was authorized to carry a firearm as part of his duties. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department placed a security hold on Smith's autopsy report, preventing its release until the investigation was concluded. The incident left a lasting impact on the community, with grief counselors being dispatched to Smith's school to support students and staff in the wake of his death. Friends and family also organized a fundraiser to assist Smith's mother with burial expenses, highlighting the profound sense of loss felt by those who knew him.
