KaDarian Smith, a 22-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on November 4, 2020, in his Midtown Houston apartment. Smith, a former University of Houston Cougars and Spring High School football player, was found with multiple gunshot wounds to the torso. He managed to call his friends, who arrived at his apartment and moved him downstairs while waiting for an ambulance. Unfortunately, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation revealed that there was no sign of forced entry into Smith's apartment, suggesting that the suspect might have been someone he knew. Surveillance footage showed four men near the apartment building before the shooting, and one of them, Devion Michael Hurtado, was later identified as the shooter. Hurtado was arrested on November 20, 2020, and charged with capital murder.
The other three suspects seen in the video have not yet been charged.
Smith's family reported that several items, including Rolex watches and a diamond bracelet, were missing from his apartment, and authorities found 11 pounds of marijuana during their search. The motive behind the murder remains unclear, but the family believes it was related to the drug transaction.
The case is still under investigation, and the family continues to seek justice for KaDarian Smith. His friends and family remember him fondly for his volunteer work and his dreams of making it in the NFL or sports broadcasting.
