On the morning of November 27, 2024, Cameron S. Smith, a 35-year-old Black/African American man from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, lost his life in a deadly shooting at a CITGO gas station near the intersection of West Fond du Lac and West Hampton Avenues. What began as an ordinary Wednesday morning turned into a devastating tragedy shortly before 10 a.m., when an armed individual approached Smith's vehicle and opened fire.
The shooting would leave three young daughters without their father and a grieving family searching for answers about why his life had been taken.
According to the Milwaukee Police Department, the shooting followed a dispute between Smith and another individual. The gunman approached Smith's vehicle and fired multiple shots, striking him as he sat inside. Smith suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where he later died. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office subsequently confirmed his identity.
Additional details about the circumstances emerged in May 2025, when a local television investigation examined the shooting and the family's continuing pursuit of justice. Surveillance footage described in that investigation showed an individual approaching Smith from behind while he was sitting in his vehicle and firing several shots. A close member of the family described how the gunman allegedly fired through the rear and side windows of Smith's vehicle. Despite suffering multiple gunshot wounds, Smith reportedly managed to get out of the vehicle and confront the shooter inside the gas station, where the two struggled. According to the family's account, Smith attempted to wrestle the firearm away from his attacker.
The family maintained that Smith had been shot multiple times, including in the back and the back of his head. These details became central to their concerns about the circumstances surrounding his death. They believed the shooting was an ambush rather than an act of self-defense, particularly because the initial gunfire reportedly came from behind while Smith was still seated in his vehicle.
Milwaukee police initially arrested a 48-year-old man in connection with the shooting. Authorities confirmed that the incident appeared to have resulted from a dispute and announced that the case would be referred to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office for consideration of criminal charges. However, subsequent reporting revealed that the individual believed responsible had claimed self-defense and had been released from custody.
During the May 2025 television investigation, a close member of Smith's family publicly identified Jakari A. Colbert as the individual believed to have fired the fatal shots. The family described the alleged gunman's movements outside the gas station and maintained that the surveillance footage contradicted his claim of self-defense. This identification was made publicly by the family and was not accompanied by confirmation of a criminal homicide charge against Colbert.
The absence of a prosecution was especially painful for Smith's loved ones. They questioned how a shooting involving multiple gunshot wounds, including wounds to the back, could result in the suspected gunman being released. Although the individual had reportedly asserted that he acted in self-defense, the family continued to dispute that explanation and called for a more thorough examination of the evidence.
Beyond the circumstances of his death, Smith was remembered as a devoted father of three daughters and a man who enjoyed working with his hands. He was particularly passionate about automobiles and had developed considerable mechanical skills. Family members recalled how he enjoyed learning about vehicle repairs and frequently helped other people fix their cars, sometimes without charging them. He occasionally brought his daughters to his workplace, sharing his enthusiasm for mechanics while spending time with them.
His children were especially affected by the sudden loss. At the time of his death, his daughters included two school-age girls and a newborn baby who had entered the world only weeks earlier. In interviews shortly after the shooting, his older children recalled the affection their father regularly showed them, including his hugs, kisses, and willingness to spend time together. The youngest would never have the opportunity to know him in the same way. Their grandfather spoke about helping care for the children as the family struggled to comprehend the tragedy.
Those closest to Smith described him as fun-loving, affectionate, and someone who frequently wore a smile. His willingness to help others, his growing mechanical abilities, and his devotion to his children were among the qualities his family hoped people would remember. A funeral service was held on December 7, 2024, at Holy Temple First Born Missionary Baptist Church in Milwaukee, with his final resting place at Valhalla Memorial Gardens.
By May 2025, nearly six months after the shooting, Smith's family was still publicly demanding accountability. Milwaukee police were reportedly continuing their investigation, and relatives encouraged anyone with additional information to contact authorities. The family remained deeply troubled that the person they believed responsible for Smith's death had been released despite the circumstances documented in the surveillance footage.
Available public reporting has not established that anyone was subsequently convicted or sentenced in connection with Smith's death. No verified trial outcome or later homicide prosecution could be confirmed. The investigation and the family's questions about the self-defense claim therefore remained unresolved in the available reporting.
For Smith's loved ones, the tragedy was about far more than the events at a Milwaukee gas station. It was the loss of a father whose children depended on him, a mechanically talented man who enjoyed helping others, and a cherished presence whose absence continued to affect everyone who knew him. His family has continued to seek answers about the circumstances of the shooting, hoping that the evidence will ultimately provide clarity and that the legal system will fully examine what happened on the morning his life was taken.
