Joshua Ramone Smith, a 21-year-old African American male from Raleigh, NC, was tragically shot and killed on January 4, 2014. The incident occurred outside a vacant business on Glenwood Avenue. After being shot, Smith was driven by a friend to a nearby Burger King, where he was later transported to WakeMed hospital. Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and passed away.
The Raleigh Police Department arrested four men in connection with Smith's death: Ussef Kamara, 21, Troy Michael
Williamson, 22, Luis Herrera, 21, and Raheem Crossley, 23. All four suspects were charged with murder. The police have stated that the crime was not random, but they have not disclosed a possible motive or how the suspects might have known Smith.
Smith's family has been left with many unanswered questions regarding the motive behind the crime. Carlos Smith, Joshua's older brother, expressed his grief and confusion, stating that Joshua was a hardworking, smart, and caring individual who had never been in trouble and did not associate with the wrong crowd. The family suspects that the motive might have been robbery, as there was no known connection between Joshua and the suspects, other than a mutual acquaintance through a woman Joshua had dated.
Joshua Ramone Smith was an accomplished athlete at Clinton High School in Clinton, NC, and had recently been working for a local construction company in Raleigh while taking college classes online and pursuing his passion for writing and recording music. His family and friends remember him as a joy to be around, with his aunt Annie Smith describing him as an angel taken too soon.
The investigation into Joshua Ramone Smith's death remains ongoing, with the Raleigh Police Department continuing to seek answers and justice for the young man's untimely demise.
