In the early hours of January 10, 2024, Burlington police responded to reports of a shooting on James Drive at approximately 2:40 a.m. Upon arrival, first responders found 30-year-old Burlington resident Davon Darnell Smith lying in the roadway with multiple gunshot wounds. Despite immediate medical attention, Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators quickly determined that the shooting appeared to be a targeted incident.
Through their investigation, detectives identified 24-year-old Mebane resident Tamile Ameer Cohn as a suspect in Smith's murder. On January 12, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Cohn's residence; however, he was not present at the time. Subsequently, a warrant for first-degree murder was issued for Cohn's arrest.
On January 15, 2024, Cohn turned himself in to the Burlington Police Department. He was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and was transported to the Alamance County Detention Center, where he was held without bond. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding Smith's death remains ongoing, with authorities continuing to seek additional information from the public to aid in their inquiries.
