Ron Freeman, a 46-year-old Black male, was shot and killed in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday, April 11, 2019. A Marine veteran and father of eight, Freeman was known by his family as a "gentle giant" with a good heart who often took on the problems of others.
The incident unfolded when a man named Austin Smith arrived at the apartment complex where Freeman lived. Smith was reportedly looking for his own brother, whom he accused of having an affair with the mother of his children.
Freeman, who was friends with Smith and lived in an adjacent apartment, attempted to reason with him. According to Freeman's mother, her son tried to convince Smith that his suspicions about his brother and wife were irrational.
Tragically, while Freeman was trying to de-escalate the situation, Smith had allegedly already killed his own family. As Ron Freeman turned his back, Smith shot him. Smith also shot his own brother and Freeman's girlfriend, both of whom survived their injuries.
Following the shooting spree, Austin Smith was arrested and held on a $2 million bond. He was accused of killing his two young daughters and their mother, in addition to the death of Ron Freeman.
