Desmond Dante Smith, a 22-year-old African American male, tragically lost his life on September 8, 2021, in Forney, Texas. Desmond, affectionately known as "Des," was born on August 25, 1999, to his parents Freddie Barnes and Alicia Smith in Monroe, Louisiana. His family relocated to Dallas, Texas, in 2001, where Desmond attended school and graduated from Evolution Academy. He was known for his love of music and gaming, often seen with his earbuds in, listening to his favorite beats.
Desmond was cherished by his family, including his two-year-old daughter, Kalani Michelle Bagley, his parents, siblings, and grandparents.
The circumstances surrounding Desmond's death were tragic and violent. On the afternoon of September 8, 2021, Desmond was involved in a shooting incident in a Forney neighborhood near Brown Middle School. The Kaufman County Sheriff's Office reported that two men were shot during the incident, and Desmond was one of the victims. He was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. The other victim's condition remains unknown.
In the aftermath of the shooting, two men were taken into custody, but the charges against them were not immediately clear. The investigation into Desmond's death continued, with authorities stating that there was no ongoing threat and that they were not looking for any other suspects. Surveillance video captured the gunfire and a white sedan speeding away from the neighborhood, which later ended up in the parking lot of Brown Middle School.
Further developments in the case revealed that a fourth suspect, James W. Dipple, aged 20, was arrested in connection to Desmond's murder. Dipple was already being held in Denton County jail on an unrelated murder charge when a warrant for his arrest was issued. The investigation into Desmond's death remains ongoing, with authorities working to piece together the events that led to the fatal shooting.
