Charles Edward Smith Jr., a 36-year-old African American male, was tragically killed on June 26, 2017, in Greensboro, North Carolina. The incident occurred outside an apartment complex on Benjamin Benson Street. According to reports, Smith was found suffering from at least one gunshot wound in a vehicle outside the dwelling. Despite efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at Moses Cone Hospital.
The shooting also resulted in injuries to another individual, Yolanda Michelle Rogers, a 28-year-old woman, who was treated for her injuries and later released from the hospital.
The suspect in the murder, Adrian Lamont Hickman, a 34-year-old male, was apprehended by the Knoxville Police Department in Tennessee. Hickman was arrested without incident at his mother's home around 1:30 a.m. on June 27, 2017. He was charged with first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder. Hickman was held in the Knox County Jail in Tennessee, awaiting extradition to North Carolina to face charges.
The investigation into Smith's death revealed that he was the intended target of the shooting. The police credited the cooperation of community members in helping to identify Hickman as the suspect. Evidence collected at the scene, along with witness statements, led to the issuance of warrants for Hickman's arrest. The case highlighted the importance of community involvement in solving violent crimes and bringing perpetrators to justice.
