In the late hours of October 21, 2025, the life of 20-year-old Amiayia White was tragically cut short in what was supposed to be a safe haven. A resident of Wilmer Hall, a transitional home for young mothers in Mobile, Alabama, Amiayia was a recent high school graduate with a passion for healthcare, holding a Certified Nursing Assistant license with dreams of becoming a Registered Nurse.
Her greatest joy and responsibility was being a mother to her infant son, David 'DJ' Smith, Jr.
On that Tuesday night, at approximately 11:30 p.m., the sanctuary of Wilmer Hall was shattered by violence. David Terrell Smith, the 21-year-old father of Amiayia's child, forcibly entered the secured facility. Investigators believe he broke through a locked door to hunt for Amiayia, ultimately ambushing her in a bathroom as she was preparing to shower. The attack was brutal and swift; Smith allegedly shot the young mother multiple times in the head, face, and body. The act was committed in the presence of their 10-month-old son, who was thankfully unharmed. At the time of her death, Amiayia was also pregnant with her second child.
The day after the shooting, on October 22, 2025, Mobile police arrested David Smith. Initially facing a murder charge, the severity of his alleged crime led to upgraded charges of capital murder. The Mobile County District Attorney's office is seeking the death penalty, citing several aggravating factors. These factors include that the murder was committed during a burglary, that it was carried out in front of a child under the age of 14, and that the death of Amiayia and her unborn child constituted the killing of two or more people.
While the exact motive remains under investigation, authorities believe the murder was domestic in nature. Court documents revealed a history of domestic violence in their two-and-a-half-year relationship. Furthermore, Amiayia had recently filed a child support petition against Smith, seeking reimbursement for their son's medical bills. The case against David Smith was bound over to a grand jury, as the community grapples with the violent loss of a young mother who was actively trying to build a better future for her children.
