Latish Smith, age 35, was found dead on October 31, 2011, in Houston, Texas. Her homicide was part of a tragic beginning to the year, which saw multiple violent incidents in the Houston area. The early part of 2011 was marked by several notable violent deaths, including stabbings and shootings, contributing to a grim rise in the city's crime rate.
Smith was among four people who were victims of homicides reported over the Halloween weekend, when violent crime seemed to spike across the city. Houston Police responded to multiple incidents, including domestic disputes that ended in murder and seemingly random acts of violence that left residents on edge. The community was still reeling from these incidents as authorities attempted to get a handle on the increasing violent crime wave. The rise in homicides during this time was concerning, prompting increased law enforcement presence in certain neighborhoods where violence was prevalent.
