On October 28, 2015, Thomas Gene Smethers, a 24-year-old male from Copperas Cove, Texas, was fatally shot in the parking lot of a Walmart in Copperas Cove. The incident occurred around 3:30 a.m. when Smethers met with two men, Terence Len Daniel Junior and Tadarius Lavonte Davis , both from Killeen, for what police believe was a drug deal. Smethers was shot multiple times and later died from his injuries at a local hospital.
Following the shooting, Davis was arrested on October 29,
2015, and charged with murder. Daniel turned himself in later that day and was also charged with murder. Both suspects were held in custody, with Davis being held at the Killeen City Jail and Daniel at the Killeen Police Department. The investigation involved multiple jurisdictions, including the Copperas Cove Police Department, Killeen Police Department, Texas Rangers, and Coryell County officers.
In November 2017, a jury found both Davis and Daniel guilty of murder. Davis was sentenced to life in prison, while Daniel received a 30-year sentence. The case highlighted the collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies in solving the crime and bringing the perpetrators to justice.
The tragic death of Thomas Gene Smethers and the subsequent legal proceedings underscore the severe consequences of drug-related violence and the importance of inter-agency cooperation in criminal investigations.
