On a summer evening in Detroit, the life of 24-year-old Darrell Smith was brought to an abrupt and violent end. The male victim was standing with a female companion at the rear of his white Infiniti on July 12, 2011. It was approximately 10 p.m. at the intersection of Plymouth Road and Longacre Street, on the city's west side, when two unknown individuals approached them on foot.
Without any apparent altercation or dispute, the suspects opened fire, striking Smith.
The shooting appeared to be a targeted attack rather than a random act of violence. After firing their weapons, the two assailants quickly fled the scene, vanishing into the night. Smith was pronounced dead at the location of the attack. His female companion was reportedly unharmed during the incident. The suddenness of the event left little evidence behind for investigators to process, and a lack of forthcoming witnesses has made the case particularly difficult for law enforcement to solve.
In the years following the homicide, Darrell Smith's family has continued to seek answers and justice. His mother, Carol Smith, made a public plea for anyone with information to come forward, stating that her son was not involved in drugs or with a rough crowd. He had been taking time off from college to care for her after an accident. Despite the efforts of the Detroit Police Department and the offer of a cash reward by Crime Stoppers for information that could lead to an arrest, the case remains cold. The identities of the two suspects who walked up and fatally shot Darrell Smith are still unknown, and no arrests have been made in connection with his murder.
