In the spring of 2007, the life of Adrian Kennard Smith, a 19-year-old Black male from Baltimore, Maryland, was tragically cut short. On May 22, 2007, Smith, who was known to friends and family as 'Tank,' was fatally shot in the 200 block of East 21st Street. Born on June 23, 1987, he was described as a loving son who touched many hearts in his short life. He had been pursuing his education through the Career Academy's GED Program and was known for his love of basketball, rap music, and spending time with his loved ones.
Adrian was an active member of his church community, having served as a Jr. Deacon and a member of the choir at First Faith Temple Baptist Church before joining the Hosanna Praise and Worship Center where he worked as church security and a backup drummer. His sudden death left a void in the lives of his family and friends.
The investigation into Adrian Smith's shooting was still open as of July 2007, with no arrests having been made in the case. More than a decade later, in 2018, the murder of Adrian Kennard Smith was included in a list of unsolved homicides in Baltimore, suggesting that law enforcement had not yet publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with his death. Details regarding a possible motive or the circumstances that led to the shooting have not been made public.
