Latasha Devora Durham, a 38-year-old African American woman, was tragically killed on February 12, 2017, in Ellerbe, North Carolina. The incident occurred at her residence on Robinson Avenue, where she lived with her family. Latasha Durham was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, 40-year-old Steven William Smith, who also killed her mother, 68-year-old Gloria Jean Durham, and her brother, 42-year-old Samuel Damon Durham.
The Richmond County Sheriff's Office received a call about the
shooting around 11:54 a.m. on the day of the incident. When they arrived at the scene, they found the three victims deceased. There were also three children in the home at the time, but they were unharmed. Smith was apprehended by the Moore County Sheriff's Office and Carthage Police Department shortly after 12:30 p.m. on the same day.
Steven William Smith, who had a history of violent behavior and a criminal record dating back to the 1990s, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, felony breaking and entering, having a fictitious driver's license, and resisting a public officer. He was also facing a misdemeanor charge of assault on a female in Montgomery County. Smith's violent past included convictions for assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, burglary, and robbery.
The motive behind the killings was rooted in a history of domestic abuse. Relatives of the victims revealed that Latasha Durham had been trying to escape from Smith's abusive behavior for years. She had finally managed to leave him a few months before the incident, but Smith's violent tendencies culminated in the tragic events of February 12, 2017. The case was investigated as a triple homicide, and Smith faced the possibility of the death penalty.
Latasha Durham's death, along with the deaths of her mother and brother, left a lasting impact on their family and the community. The children who were present during the shooting were taken in by family members and were reported to be safe. The case highlighted the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the importance of addressing such issues to prevent future tragedies.
