On a June afternoon in East Baltimore, the life of 19-year-old Deontay Townes was tragically cut short. First responders were called to the 2600 block of Aisquith Street, near Clifton Park, shortly after 4 p.m. on June 11, 2024, where they discovered Townes suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries a few hours later.
Another individual, a woman, was also wounded in the shooting but survived her injuries.
In the wake of the shooting, family members remembered Deontay as a charismatic and outgoing young man who had a passion for building things and a love for animals. His mother, Kimberly Townes, shared that her son had been managing challenges with his mental health for years and had been in treatment. She lamented that his life was cut short in the city where he was born and raised. The last few months of his life had reportedly been particularly challenging for him.
The investigation into the homicide led Baltimore City police to a suspect within two weeks of the incident. Jamal Smothers, an 18-year-old, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Deontay Townes. Following his arrest, Smothers was held in central booking without bond. A preliminary hearing in his case was scheduled for early July.
