Dennis Jerome Smith Jr., a 29-year-old African American male, was found dead outside his home in Chadbourn, North Carolina, on December 29, 2018. The Columbus County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene just after 8 p.m. on that Saturday. Smith Jr. was born on January 22, 1989, in Whiteville, North Carolina. He was the son of Dennis Jerome Smith and Diane McLean Simpson.
Smith Jr.'s death prompted a homicide investigation by the Columbus County Sheriff’s Office.
The details surrounding his death indicate that he was shot outside his residence. The investigation into his murder is ongoing, and no arrests or suspects have been publicly identified at this time. The authorities have not released any further information regarding potential litigations, law cases, or other investigations related to his death.
Smith Jr. is survived by his wife, Shyniece Bell Smith, and their children, Ahmari Jerome Smith and Paris Bell Phillips. His family and friends held a funeral service on January 6, 2019, at Saint Stephens Holiness Church in Tabor City, North Carolina. The community continues to mourn his loss and seeks justice for his untimely death.
