In the late summer of 2019, the life of 17-year-old Cornelius 'Mickey' Smith was tragically cut short in New Orleans. A senior at International High School, Cornelius was known for his fun-loving nature, his passion for sports, and his academic diligence as an honor roll student. He had a bright future ahead, with aspirations of playing on the school's basketball team, graduating, and pursuing a college education.
His warm smile and kind spirit endeared him to his family and friends, who remember him as a young man with a good head on his shoulders.
On a September morning, the path of Cornelius's life took a devastating turn. He was a passenger in a car with seven other people when another vehicle pulled alongside them. Gunfire erupted from the approaching car, shattering the peace of the day and forever altering the lives of those inside. In the hail of bullets, Cornelius was fatally wounded, and five other occupants of the car sustained injuries. The senseless act of violence left a community in mourning and a family heartbroken over the untimely loss of a beloved son and brother.
In the months that followed, investigators worked to bring those responsible to justice. Their efforts led to the arrest of 18-year-old Dijon Dixon. In August 2020, a grand jury indicted Dixon on one count of second-degree murder for the death of Cornelius Smith. The indictment also included seven counts of attempted second-degree murder, reflecting the grave danger posed to the other individuals in the car. Authorities identified Dixon as the driver of the vehicle from which the fatal shots were fired. Another individual was believed to be in the car with Dixon, also opening fire, though this second person had not been publicly identified. Following his indictment, Dixon was jailed as he awaited legal proceedings.
