On a cold January evening in Larned, Kansas, the life of 12-year-old Carver Anthony Smith, a White male, was tragically cut short. On January 8, 2022, law enforcement was called to a home on Park Street after a passerby made a grim discovery. Inside the residence, officers found Carver, along with 44-year-old Shala M. Smith and 44-year-old Jon B. Smith, all deceased from apparent gunshot wounds.
Carver was a student at Larned Middle School and was known for his fun and witty personality.
He had a passion for video games and was a top-ranking Tetris player in Kansas. He also enjoyed swimming with friends during the summer and was learning to cook his favorite pasta salad. Friends and family remember him as a caring individual who loved his family and friends deeply.
The investigation into the three deaths was conducted by the Larned Police Department and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Following autopsies and an examination of the evidence, authorities concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide. Investigators determined that Jon B. Smith drove to the residence where Shala and Carver lived in the early morning hours. Armed with a shotgun, he fatally shot his wife, Shala, and his son, Carver, before turning the weapon on himself. As a result of this conclusion, no arrests were made, and no outside suspects were sought in connection with the tragic deaths. The investigation confirmed Jon B. Smith as the sole perpetrator.
