In the late hours of a Thursday evening, the life of 31-year-old Eugene Gino Smith was tragically cut short in Temple Hills, Maryland. On February 23, 2023, as Smith was leaving the DMV All Skate Social skating rink on Branch Avenue, he was struck by gunfire. The shots were fired from a silver sedan that was out front of the establishment. Responding officers found Smith with gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene. At the time of the incident, Smith was not working his security detail. He was the owner of a security company that provided services to the skating rink and had several of his officers on duty that night. He had reportedly stopped by the rink to handle payroll for his staff.
The investigation into the shooting moved forward, and authorities worked to determine if Smith had been specifically targeted.
In the weeks that followed, the community mourned the loss of a man described as a dedicated family man with five children and the owner of his own business, Eugenius Protection. He was also remembered as a violence interrupter who worked to create a safer community. A candlelight vigil was held in his honor at the skating rink where he lost his life, with friends and family gathering to share memories and release white dove balloons into the night sky.
The efforts of law enforcement led to a significant development in the case on March 16, 2023, when an arrest was made. Omar Delonte Smith, 27, was taken into custody in Richmond, Virginia, and charged with first-degree and second-degree murder in connection with Eugene Smith's death. It was revealed that the two men were not related, but the suspect was a former security guard who had been fired by Eugene Smith. Following his arrest, the suspect was awaiting extradition to Prince George's County to face the charges.
