Acara Goldsmith, a 36-year-old man, was tragically shot to death on November 10, 2016, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The incident occurred around 5 p.m. in the 500 block of Barbara Jane Avenue near Old Greensboro Road. Goldsmith was found with a gunshot wound to the stomach and was immediately taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries.
This marked the 22nd homicide in Winston-Salem for the year 2016.
Following the incident, the Winston-Salem police launched an investigation but initially did not release much information. No arrests were made, and no suspects were identified in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. However, on November 28, 2016, 34-year-old Billy Jackson Simmons III turned himself in to the authorities. Simmons was charged with murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The investigation revealed that Simmons shot Goldsmith during an argument.
The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gun violence in Winston-Salem, as the city had already experienced a significant number of homicides that year compared to the previous year. The investigation into Goldsmith's death continued, with the police urging anyone with additional information to come forward.
