On the evening of December 20, 2017, Larry Maurice Smith, a 34-year-old African American male from Warren, Ohio, was fatally shot at approximately 8:45 p.m. at the Avon Oaks apartment complex located at 425 Southern Boulevard NW. Following the shooting, Smith attempted to drive himself to the hospital but lost consciousness and control of his vehicle.
He crashed into a large box truck at the intersection of Mahoning Avenue and Summit Street NW, pushing the truck into the front porch of a nearby home. Emergency responders found Smith deceased inside his vehicle, which had multiple bullet holes on the passenger side. ,
Larry Smith was born on April 6, 1983, in Warren, Ohio, to parents Larry M. and Benita J. Smith Rodgers. He was a lifelong resident of the area and graduated from Warren G. Harding High School. Professionally, Smith specialized in painting cars and attended the Alpha and Omega Seventh-Day Adventist Church. He had three children: Elizah and Tyler Smith, and Mauriah Anderson. Smith was known for his passion for working on cars, his love of sports, and his dedication to his children.
In the aftermath of the incident, Warren police initiated an investigation into Smith's death. At the time, authorities had identified persons of interest but had not made any arrests. Captain Rob Massucci of the Warren Police Department noted that Smith had a history involving drugs and violence in the city. The investigation faced challenges due to a lack of physical evidence and the reluctance of witnesses to come forward. As of the latest available reports, no suspects had been publicly identified or apprehended in connection with Larry Smith's death. ,
