In the warm evening of August 15, 2020, in New Haven, Connecticut, the life of DayShon Smith, a 28-year-old Black / African American male, was tragically cut short. A promising amateur boxer known for his determination, Smith was fatally shot in the city's Hill neighborhood on Rosette Street. The shooting erupted during a gathering, which was reportedly a vigil for a previous homicide victim. The burst of gunfire also wounded five other people, including two women and three men.
Smith's death marked the city's 14th homicide of that year.
Those who knew DayShon Smith remembered him as a driven and polite individual with a passion for boxing. His trainer described him as quiet and respectful outside of the ring, a "decent kid." His aunt, Tennille Murphy, called him a "beautiful soul, inside and out," who faced life with grit and determination. Having lost his father as a toddler and his mother as a teenager, Smith had stepped up to help raise his younger brothers, embodying a spirit of perseverance.
The investigation into the chaotic shooting that claimed Smith's life has been ongoing. While no one has been charged directly with his murder, law enforcement has identified a person of interest. Denzel Suggs, 26, was arrested on a federal firearms charge and is believed to have been involved in a dispute just before the shooting began. According to prosecutors, an argument at a barbecue escalated, and after a man attempted to hit Suggs with a bottle, Suggs allegedly drew a gun and fired. A "melee" ensued, during which approximately 40 shots were fired. Although Suggs has not been named a suspect or charged in Smith's death, he was ordered held without bond on the firearms charge. The investigation continues as the community still awaits justice for the loss of a beloved local boxer.
