In the small city of El Dorado, Arkansas, the life of 24-year-old Dayshawn Martez Smith was tragically cut short. On the afternoon of December 10, 2024, the El Dorado Police Department received a call about an unresponsive male discovered in the front yard of a residence near the intersection of West Cook Street and Murphy Avenue. Upon their arrival, officers found Smith, who had sustained at least one gunshot wound.
Investigators believe the fatal shooting likely occurred the previous evening, and that Smith had collapsed in the yard after attempting to flee his attacker or attackers.
The investigation into the death of the young man, a graduate of El Dorado High School and South Arkansas Community College with a certificate in welding, quickly led to two teenage suspects. Lamar Jones, 17, and Jyshun Ellis, 15, both residents of El Dorado, were taken into custody in connection with Smith's death. The community was left to grapple with the loss of a man remembered for his kind spirit, infectious smile, and charismatic personality, a man who was affectionately nicknamed 'Spanky' by his late great-aunt. He was a father to a young daughter, Alainee Milan Smith, who was the apple of his eye.
Following their arrest, both teenage suspects were charged as adults. Initially facing capital murder charges, these were later reduced to first-degree murder. In a court appearance on December 13, 2024, a judge set the bond for both Jones and Ellis at $1 million each. As the legal process moves forward, the El Dorado Police Department continues its investigation, seeking to understand the motive behind the senseless act of violence that ended Dayshawn Smith's life. Evidence from the scene has been sent to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for analysis, as authorities work to piece together the events that led to the untimely death of a young father and cherished member of the community.
