On a tragic Valentine's Day in Memphis, Tennessee, 15-year-old Damien Smith Jr., an African American male, lost his life in a senseless act of violence. The incident unfolded on February 14, 2022, in the 400 block of Ratliff Lane, where Damien and a small group of teenagers were gathered. An argument erupted between one of the teens and 38-year-old Marcus D.
Orr, who was on the porch of his home.
The verbal altercation quickly escalated when Orr, a man with a previous conviction for aggravated assault, pulled out a pistol and began firing at the group of adolescents. While three of the teenagers, aged 14, 15, and 17, managed to escape the gunfire unharmed, Damien was struck in the back. He collapsed near the sidewalk and was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His aunt, Andrea Vaughn, remembered him as a smart kid who was always eager to learn and was on his way to an after-school program at the time of the shooting.
Following the incident, Marcus D. Orr was arrested and indicted on multiple felony counts, including first-degree murder, three counts of attempted first-degree murder, and firearm-related charges. He was held at the Shelby County Jail on a $150,000 bond. The case was taken on by the District Attorney's Vertical Team 1, which prosecutes cases in General Sessions Division 7 and Criminal Court Division 1.
