In the winter of 2021, a burst of gunfire shattered the relative quiet of Interstate 40 at Chelsea Avenue in Memphis, Tennessee, leaving two young men dead and a community searching for answers. On December 26th, police discovered the victims inside a silver 2013 Honda Accord; they had been shot multiple times. One of the men was identified as Donte' Malik Smith, a 25-year-old African American male from Memphis. The other man was identified as Derick King.
A female passenger in the vehicle was also critically injured in the shooting.
The brazen nature of the interstate shooting prompted an immediate and thorough investigation by law enforcement. However, the initial stages of the inquiry proved to be challenging. Investigators found themselves with few leads and no immediate suspects. The Memphis Police Department urged the public to come forward with any information that might lead to the apprehension of those responsible for the double homicide. They specifically asked anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement and the pleas for public assistance, the case of Donte Smith and Derick King's murder has remained unsolved. The community and the families of the victims have been left to grapple with the senseless loss of two young lives. The investigation into the deaths of Donte Smith and Derick King is ongoing as authorities continue to seek the information that will bring their killer or killers to justice.
