Robert Allen Smith, a 59-year-old man from Thomasville, North Carolina, was found shot and lying in the street on November 17, 2017. A driver discovered Smith around 2:30 a.m. in the 200 block of Church Street and called 911, initially believing Smith had been the victim of a hit-and-run. However, when officers arrived, they discovered that Smith had been shot. He was taken to the hospital, where he later died.
Detectives spent several hours canvassing the neighborhood and questioning neighbors. They also executed a search warrant for an apartment on Church Street, where Smith was last seen alive. Police believe Smith was shot at or near the apartment and then walked down the sidewalk before collapsing in the road.
Smith's mother, Sarah Smith-Love, expressed her grief and confusion over her son's death. She received multiple calls on the morning of November 17, initially being told that her son had been hit by a car, but later learning that he had been shot. Smith-Love rushed to the hospital but did not get to say goodbye to her son. She found comfort in her faith and the support of friends and family, but struggled to understand why her son was at the Church Street apartment or why he did not call for help. She expressed hope that the police would find her son's killer, trusting that the truth would eventually come to light.
As of the latest reports, no suspects have been named in the case, and the investigation is ongoing. Smith's death marked the second homicide in Thomasville in 2017. Police are waiting on the results of Smith's autopsy and continue to seek information from the public to help solve the case. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the police or Crime Stoppers.
