In a tragic turn of events stemming from what was described as playful behavior, 18-year-old Delarrion Tremayne Smith Jr. of Hephzibah, Georgia, was fatally shot on Monday, November 11, 2013. Smith, an African American male known affectionately as 'DJ,' was a student at Hephzibah High School and a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. His life was cut short after being shot once at a residence on Andorra Drive. He was transported to GRU Hospital's emergency room, where he was pronounced dead at 7:21 p.m.
The incident unfolded when Smith went to the Andorra Drive home to give a friend, 19-year-old Dominique Shaquille Sullivan, a ride. According to the Richmond County Sheriff's Office, the two began to horseplay. During this interaction, Smith reportedly pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Sullivan in a playful manner. Sullivan then took the gun, removed the magazine, and, believing the weapon to be unloaded, pointed it at Smith and pulled the trigger. A round that was still in the chamber fired, striking Smith.
Following the shooting, Dominique Shaquille Sullivan was arrested and faced multiple charges in connection with Delarrion Smith's death. The charges brought against him included involuntary manslaughter, possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime, and pointing a weapon at another person. The charge of involuntary manslaughter in Georgia pertains to the unintentional killing of another individual.
