On the evening of March 28, 2018, a tragic series of events unfolded in the Hickory Ridge area of Memphis, leading to the death of 24-year-old Christopher Smith. The incident began after Smith's cousin's car was stolen from a service station in southeast Memphis. While searching for the stolen vehicle, Smith and his cousin became suspicious of a car occupied by three individuals that repeatedly drove by them.
Believing the occupants of the other car were involved in the theft, Smith and
his cousin decided to follow them. The pursuit ended when the suspects' vehicle abruptly stopped and turned around to face them on Cognac Cove. At that point, three men exited the car and opened fire on Smith and his cousin. Christopher Smith, who was in the driver's seat, was struck by multiple gunshots and was pronounced dead at the scene. His 23-year-old cousin was shot in the leg but managed to get away and call for help.
In the weeks that followed the shooting, investigators identified three suspects: Jaelen Bell, Demerrick Porter, and Christian Key. All three were taken into custody. In November 2018, a grand jury indicted Bell, then 20, Porter, 18, and Key, 18, on charges of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and employment of a firearm in the commission of a dangerous felony.
The legal proceedings brought a measure of justice for the killing of Christopher Smith. In July 2021, a criminal court jury convicted Demerrick Porter of second-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, and the firearm charge. He was later sentenced to 38 years in prison. In March 2022, Jaelen Bell pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder and received a 28-year prison sentence. The final suspect, Christian Key, pleaded guilty to the same charges in June 2022 and was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
