In the late hours of a Monday night, just before midnight on February 1, 2016, the life of 24-year-old Roshawn Smith was tragically cut short in a fatal act of violence. Smith, a deacon at the Abundant Life Tabernacle Church in New Orleans, was at the corner of St. Bernard Avenue and Republic Street when he was both robbed and shot multiple times. He was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention but succumbed to his injuries and passed away the following day, on Tuesday, February 2,
2016.
Roshawn Smith was a husband and a father to three children. His death was a profound loss to his family and his church community, where he served as a deacon. The motive for the shooting was reported by police to be robbery. Despite the passage of time, the case of Roshawn Smith’s murder remains unsolved. As of early 2026, a decade after the incident, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified in connection with his death. Authorities have periodically asked for the public’s help with any information that might lead to a breakthrough in the investigation. A reward was offered by Crimestoppers for information that could help solve the case.
