Daniel Lee Upton, a 30-year-old resident of Lakeland, Florida, tragically lost his life on August 19, 2019, in Port Saint Joe, Florida. The incident occurred in the Gulf Aire Subdivision on St. Joe Beach, where Upton was shot by Stephen Michael Smith, a 25-year-old from LaGrange, Georgia. The Gulf County Sheriff's Office responded to a shots fired call at 204 Sea Pines Lane shortly after 10:00 am.
Upton was transported to Bay County Hospital, where he underwent surgery but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. The authorities confirmed that Upton died from a single gunshot wound.
Stephen Michael Smith, the identified shooter, was at large following the incident. Smith, who was already wanted for absconding from a work release program in Georgia, where he was serving a sentence for robbery, became the prime suspect in Upton's murder. The Gulf County Sheriff's Office, with assistance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, launched an extensive investigation to locate Smith. They believed the motive behind the shooting was known but did not disclose details at the time. The authorities emphasized that the incident was isolated and that the public was not at risk, as Upton and Smith were acquainted prior to the shooting.
The investigation took a significant turn when Smith was found dead on August 21, 2019. Law enforcement officers located Smith during a traffic stop, where he immediately committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. This marked the end of a multi-state manhunt that had involved various law enforcement agencies across the southeast. The investigation revealed that the shooting was the result of a drug deal gone wrong. Additionally, Destiny Jene Terry, a 44-year-old woman, was arrested and charged with principal to second-degree murder. Investigators believed she had introduced Smith and Upton and was present at the time of the shooting.
Upton's death came at a particularly difficult time for his family, who had recently laid their mother to rest. His twin brother, Eric Upton, expressed gratitude to the Gulf County Sheriff's Office for their diligent work on the case. The family set up an online fundraiser to help cover funeral expenses, highlighting the emotional and financial toll the tragedy had taken on them. The case underscored the complexities and dangers associated with drug-related activities and the far-reaching impact of such violent incidents on families and communities.
