On June 4, 2023, a fatal shooting occurred in Daytona Beach, Florida, resulting in the death of 32-year-old Jaron Smith. The incident began around 1:17 a.m. when Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD) officers responded to a call at 955 Orange Avenue, initially reported as a weapons complaint. Upon arrival, they found a crashed Ford Mustang at the corner of Orange Avenue and Caroline Street, with Smith inside suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
Smith was transported to Halifax Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead about an hour after the incident. The investigation revealed that Smith had been attending a birthday party in the area, where he was celebrating having signed a record deal and achieving one million followers on Instagram by burning money. This celebration led to an argument with 27-year-old Robert Blue, who is also known as 'Blue Chezz,' a music manager.
According to witnesses, Blue inquired about why Smith was burning money, which escalated into an argument. Smith reportedly pepper sprayed Blue and punched him in the face. In response, Blue pulled out a firearm and shot Smith until the magazine was emptied. After the shooting, Blue was seen driving away from the scene south along Caroline Street.
Robert Blue was identified as the suspect through witness testimony, and an arrest warrant was obtained. He was arrested on Monday, June 5, 2023, and charged with second-degree murder and violation of probation. Blue is being held at the Volusia County Branch Jail on no bond. The investigation indicated that the killing was not alleged to be premeditated.
Blue has a history of previous arrests on unrelated charges, including aggravated assault, resisting arrest, and possession of cannabis. The ongoing investigation suggests that there may have been a professional grievance between Blue and Smith related to their respective music careers, although this has not been confirmed as the primary motive.
