In the predawn hours of a Tuesday in Montgomery, Alabama, the life of 20-year-old Kavone Konjae Smith-Mosquera was tragically cut short. On July 16, 2024, in the 3200 block of Covered Bridge Road, gunfire erupted, leaving Kavone, a young male, fatally wounded. Police and fire medics were dispatched to the scene at approximately 12:35 a.m., but despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at 12:47 a.m.
Another individual was also struck by the gunfire but sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital.
Kavone, known affectionately as 'Lil Shawt,' was a native and resident of Montgomery. He was a graduate of George Washington Carver High School's class of 2022, where he was a member of the marching band, 'The Marching Wolverines.' Like his father, Kavone had a passion for music. He was the third child of Delicia Mosquera and Eugene Smith, Jr. and had worked at Zaxby's and more recently at Hyundai MMC.
The investigation into the shooting quickly led to a suspect. My'Quan Shyki Morris, an 18-year-old from Montgomery, was arrested and charged with capital murder in connection with Kavone's death. According to court documents, the fatal shooting occurred during the commission of a robbery. It is alleged that Morris was in the process of stealing a rifle when Kavone was killed.
Following his arrest, My'Quan Morris was booked into the Montgomery County Detention Facility, where he was held without bond. The charge of capital murder reflects the gravity of the accusation, indicating that the homicide occurred during the commission of another serious felony. The case against him represents another instance in a troubling trend of violent crime involving teenagers in the Montgomery area.
