An evening of drinking among acquaintances in a Pittsburgh apartment took a fatal turn, ending the life of 29-year-old Damien Jackson. On the night of September 1, 2022, Jackson was with his sister and a woman named Toddia Smiley in his sister's East Hills neighborhood apartment. An argument broke out between Jackson and Smiley, escalating into a physical confrontation. Smiley later told investigators that Jackson had spit on her and hit her in the face.
She claimed he also threatened her, prompting her to leave the apartment.
The conflict did not end there. When Smiley returned to the apartment to retrieve her forgotten cell phone, the argument reignited. According to Smiley's account to the police, Jackson struck her again. She claimed that she 'thought she saw him reaching for something with his left hand' and, in that moment, she pulled out a pistol and fired. However, Smiley also admitted to the police that she never actually saw a weapon on Damien Jackson. The victim's sister, who witnessed the tragic event, told a different story to investigators. She confirmed that her brother had pushed and spit on Smiley, but maintained that he was unarmed and had not threatened her life. The sister stated that Smiley returned to the apartment, opened the front door, and fired a single shot at Jackson. After the shooting, Smiley went to her own nearby apartment and hid the gun in a diaper box. Responding officers found Jackson inside the apartment with a fatal gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Pittsburgh police quickly identified 25-year-old Toddia Smiley as the suspect and arrested her. She was charged with criminal homicide and tampering with evidence. Following her arrest, Smiley was booked into the Allegheny County Jail. The case moved through the legal system, and in December, Smiley, then 28, pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter, as well as tampering with evidence.
On April 3, 2025, a judge sentenced Toddia Smiley for the killing of Damien Jackson. She was ordered to serve 5 1/2 to 11 years in a state prison. Following her release, she will be on probation for an additional nine years. The sentencing marked the legal conclusion to a night that began with drinks and ended in a man's death, leaving a family to mourn the loss of a man described as having an infectious smile who loved his family and friends dearly.
