Jamar DeShawn Smith, a 27-year-old African American man, was found dead with a gunshot wound to the chest on January 15, 2014, in the backyard of a home on Aurora Vista Drive in Asheville, NC. The incident occurred after a drug deal turned violent. Despite the tragic circumstances, no murder charges were filed in connection with his death. District Attorney Ron Moore stated that his office reviewed and discussed the case extensively before charges went before a grand jury.
However, Moore declined to discuss the specific details that led to Smith's death, citing multiple active cases associated with the incident.
Three teens and one man were indicted recently in connection with the case. Marshall Bruce Johnson, 19, of Nebo, and Lendan Cheves Hoke, 19, of Morganton, were indicted on charges that they conspired to sell or deliver marijuana on January 15. Thomas Lamont Littlejohn, 28, of Erskine Street, was charged with conspiring to commit common law robbery and attempted common law robbery. Felycity Elizabeth Moria Raby, 18, of Larue Street, was also charged with conspiring to commit common law robbery. According to court records, Smith, Littlejohn, and Raby conspired to rob Johnson. Smith and Littlejohn were half-brothers.
Stephanie Maewether, Smith's aunt, expressed her frustration that murder charges were not levied against anyone involved in the case. She described the marijuana charges as "weak" and felt that all individuals involved in the incident should have been charged with murder. Maewether stated that Smith's death had torn the family apart, and family members had heard multiple versions of what happened, leaving them uncertain about the truth. Moore mentioned that he tried to set up a meeting with Smith's family prior to the indictments being served but was unsuccessful.
Johnson's lawyer, Sean Devereux, did not return a message for comment. Hoke, who declined assigned counsel, could not be reached for comment. Littlejohn, a convicted felon, was held in the Buncombe County jail with a bond set at $95,000 secured. Raby declined to comment through her mother. The lack of murder charges in the case left Smith's family and community members seeking justice and clarity regarding the events that led to his untimely death.
