In the quiet, early morning hours of May 27, 2017, the life of 25-year-old Dwight 'D.J.' Smith Jr., a male resident of Morrilton, Arkansas, was tragically cut short. Inside the local establishment of Jose's Supper Club on East Broadway, a physical altercation broke out around 2:00 a.m. During the course of the fight, Smith sustained a fatal gunshot wound. In the immediate aftermath, he was privately transported to St. Vincent-Morrilton ER for medical attention.
Despite the efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The investigation into the death of Dwight Smith Jr. was promptly initiated by the Morrilton Police Department, who received assistance from the Arkansas State Police. Their collaborative efforts were focused on identifying and apprehending the individual responsible for the shooting. The investigation led them to a suspect, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. The news of the young man's death sent ripples of grief and shock throughout the Morrilton community, where he was well-known and loved.
A few days following the incident, on May 31, 2017, the suspect in the case, 21-year-old Justin Mackenzie Kilgore, surrendered to the authorities at the Morrilton Police Department. He was subsequently taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Dwight Smith Jr. Following his arrest, Kilgore was detained at the Conway County Detention Center. The arrest brought a sense of resolution to the initial phase of the investigation, though the community continued to mourn the loss of a young life.
