George Thomas Smith Jr., a 45-year-old man from Dayton, OH, tragically died on July 26, 2021, after being shot in the back of the head. He was transported to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries on August 10, 2021. The incident occurred on Gerhard Street in Dayton.
Raymond Walters, a 63-year-old repeat offender, was indicted on multiple charges related to Smith's death. Walters was accused of shooting Smith multiple times at point-blank range.
Surveillance video captured Walters arriving at the scene, exiting his vehicle, and committing the shooting before fleeing in the same vehicle. Walters was indicted on three counts of murder, three counts of felonious assault, one count of improper discharge of a firearm at or into a habitation, one count of discharge of a firearm on or near prohibited premises, and one count of having weapons while under disability. The charges also included firearm specifications and a repeat violent offender specification due to Walters' prior criminal history.
The Montgomery County Grand Jury indicted Walters, and he was held in the Montgomery County Jail on a $500,000 bond. Walters' previous convictions included attempted murder in 1976, involuntary manslaughter in 1980, and attempted murder in Pike County in 2005. The case highlighted Walters' extensive criminal record and the serious nature of the charges against him.
Smith's death and the subsequent legal actions against Walters drew significant attention from the local community and law enforcement agencies in Dayton. The case underscored the ongoing challenges of addressing violent crime and repeat offenders in the area.
