On a cold Thanksgiving night in Des Moines, Iowa, the life of 20-year-old DaBryan Maurice Smith, a Black / African American male, was tragically cut short. On November 24, 2016, what should have been a day of gratitude turned into a scene of violence in the parking lot of a Git N Go convenience store on the city's east side. Shortly before 7 p.m., multiple gunshots were fired from a passing vehicle at a group of people, striking DaBryan in the lower torso.
He was rushed to Broadlawns Medical Center in a private vehicle but ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
DaBryan, born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, had moved to Des Moines with his family and established a life there. A 2014 high school graduate, he was pursuing a degree in auto mechanics at Des Moines Area Community College. Known for his athletic abilities in football and basketball, he dreamed of one day coaching and mentoring the youth in his community. He was a devoted father to his son, Da'Bryan Smith Jr., and was engaged to be married to his fiancée, Crystal Campbell. His death marked the 13th homicide in Des Moines that year.
In the wake of the shooting, Des Moines police launched an investigation, believing the incident was not a random act of violence and that a relationship likely existed between the assailants and the victim. Investigators spent hours at the scene, well into the morning, collecting evidence and seeking witnesses. They planned to review surveillance footage from the convenience store and nearby businesses. However, the investigation was hampered by a lack of witness cooperation, a factor that authorities noted made solving such cases challenging.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement, no suspects were ever publicly identified, and no arrests have been made in connection with DaBryan Smith's murder. The case grew cold, leaving his family and community without answers or justice. The shooting remains an unsolved homicide, a painful reminder of a young life lost to gun violence on a holiday meant for togetherness.
