Takembae Batece Smith, a young man of 20, is remembered by friends and family for the laughter and support he offered during his life. Born on December 2, 2005, Takembae left behind cherished memories for all who had the privilege of knowing him. Though his life was cut short, the moments he shared and the connections he made continue to resonate with his loved ones, who carry his memory forward in their hearts.
On social media, friends mourned his passing, with one recalling plans to ride dirt bikes together and a relative expressing their love for their nephew.
On the afternoon of Saturday, October 3, 2026, the life Takembae was building came to a violent end inside an apartment in southwest Atlanta. Atlanta Police Department officers were dispatched to the Aspen Court Apartments in the 1700 block of Stanton Road SW around 1:40 p.m. following a report of a person shot. When they arrived, they found Takembae inside one of the units. He had sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was not alert, conscious, or breathing. Emergency medical services pronounced him deceased at the scene.
Homicide investigators who responded to the apartment complex began working to piece together the events that led to the shooting. According to police, the incident began as an argument between acquaintances inside the apartment that tragically escalated to gunfire. "This is an argument that escalated," Atlanta Police Department Captain Germaine Dearlove stated at the scene. Investigators confirmed that no children were present in the apartment at the time of the fatal altercation. The neighborhood where the shooting occurred had seen other violent incidents, including a fatal apartment fire just weeks earlier at the same complex, though the events were not publicly linked.
The Atlanta Police Department’s investigation moved quickly in the initial hours. Authorities confirmed that one person who was inside the apartment when the shooting occurred was detained and transported to police headquarters for questioning. However, no official suspects were immediately named, and no arrests were announced in the days following Takembae’s death. Homicide investigators continued their work to determine the precise circumstances surrounding the argument and the subsequent shooting, processing the scene for evidence and speaking with potential witnesses.
In the wake of their devastating loss, Takembae’s family organized services to honor his memory. A viewing was held on the evening of Wednesday, October 14, 2026, at the Praise and Worship Celebration Center on Cleveland Avenue SE, where friends and family gathered to pay their last respects. The following day, Thursday, October 15, a Celebration of Life service was held at the Atlanta Berean Seventh-Day Adventist Church on Hamilton E Holmes Drive NW. Following the service, Takembae was laid to rest at Lincoln Cemetery. The funeral arrangements were handled by Eppinger & Lewis Funeral Home.
As of the latest available reports from October 2026, the investigation into the murder of Takembae Batece Smith remains ongoing. While authorities questioned one individual immediately after the shooting, no arrests or charges have been publicly announced. The case remains open, leaving his family and community awaiting answers and justice. There has been no public information released regarding a reward for information in this case.
