Jerry Smothers, a 63-year-old white male, tragically lost his life on June 13, 2021, after being shot on June 5, 2021, while working as a security guard at the Clarion Hotel on Cedar Creek Road in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Smothers was found by a coworker just before 11 p.m., having been shot in the head and robbed of his wallet and his tan 2001 GMC Sierra.
He succumbed to his injuries after being in critical condition for several days.
The investigation into Smothers' death led to the arrest of Dahsir Thomas Welch, a 22-year-old male from Hope Mills, North Carolina. Welch was charged with first-degree murder, robbery with a dangerous weapon, larceny of a motor vehicle, and possession of a stolen vehicle. Welch was already in the Cumberland County Jail on unrelated charges when he was charged with Smothers' murder. According to court documents, Welch was identified through a fingerprint found in Smothers' stolen truck and surveillance footage from a Dollar General store.
The case against Welch included evidence that he had been seen in the area where Smothers' truck was recovered and that he had been wearing clothing matching the description of the suspect. Welch allegedly admitted to being at the hotel on the night of the shooting and claimed to have purchased Smothers' stolen truck from a stranger. The investigation also revealed that Welch had a history of theft and possession of stolen goods.
Smothers' family and friends were devastated by his death, describing him as a kind and caring individual who was always willing to help others. His sister, Mary Jo Hinton, expressed her grief and called for justice, stating that the family would never get over the loss of Smothers. The case remains a poignant reminder of the senseless violence that can occur and the impact it has on the lives of those left behind.
