On the morning of May 2, 2025, 33-year-old African American woman LaToya Marie Smith was tragically killed in a shooting at a residence on Carl Ball Lane in the Moss Hill community of Lenoir County, North Carolina. Deputies from the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene around 8:30 a.m., where they discovered LaToya Smith deceased from gunshot wounds. Also found at the scene were 24-year-old African American man Calvin Kennion, who was critically injured, and a dog that had been shot. Kennion later succumbed to his injuries.
Authorities quickly identified the suspect as Ross Smith, who was located and taken into custody in Pitt County later that day. Ross Smith faces multiple charges, including two counts of First Degree Murder, Felony Breaking and Entering, and Felony Animal Cruelty. Investigators stated that the suspect unlawfully entered the residence with the intent to commit a felony, resulting in the deaths of LaToya Smith and Calvin Kennion, as well as the injury to the dog.
LaToya Marie Smith was born on June 24, 1991, in Craven County, North Carolina. She is survived by her mother, Rose Lawhorn; father, Darnell Watson; three children, Janiya, Ross Jr., and Raziyah Smith; and a stepdaughter, Janquia Smith. A celebration of her life was held on May 19, 2025, at Trinity Funeral Service in Kinston, North Carolina, with burial following in the Harris Family Cemetery in the Ft. Barnwell Community.
The community of Moss Hill, known for its quiet and peaceful nature, was deeply shaken by this incident. Neighbors expressed shock and sorrow over the violence that disrupted their neighborhood. The Lenoir County Sheriff's Office continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
