Gerald Lee Bishop II, a 31-year-old male of African American ethnicity, was tragically shot and killed on June 11, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio. Bishop, who had previously cheered for Ohio State University and was currently a coach at Midwest Magic Allstars Cheer and Dance, was found dead in a cul-de-sac on Larry Place. Witnesses quickly identified the shooter, Dalon Laquan Smoot, a 21-year-old male, who was captured shortly after fleeing the scene.
Smoot was indicted by a Franklin County
Grand Jury on charges of aggravated murder, murder, aggravated robbery, tampering with evidence, and weapon under disability. The indictment included Repeat Violent Offender specifications due to Smoot's prior conviction for aggravated robbery, for which he had just been released from prison 25 days before the murder. Smoot faced a potential sentence of life without parole for the aggravated murder counts.
The family of Dalon Smoot has maintained his innocence, claiming that he is being falsely accused and that the main witness against him has a personal vendetta. Despite these claims, Smoot was arraigned on June 22, 2016, and the case proceeded through the legal system.
The death of Gerald Lee Bishop II was a devastating loss for the Midwest Magic Allstars Cheer and Dance community, as well as for his friends, family, and the many athletes he coached and mentored. Bishop's dedication to his athletes and his impact on their lives were widely recognized and remembered by those who knew him.
