On April 29, 2020, 14-year-old Kaiden Nickless Smith, a White/Caucasian male, was at a friend's home in El Dorado, Kansas, with other teenagers when he sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the head. Emergency services were called to a residence on South Star Street with an initial report that the ninth-grade El Dorado High School student had intentionally shot himself.
However, this was soon questioned by investigators.
Confusion arose at the scene as the firearm involved had been moved after the incident. Furthermore, none of the other teens present at the home claimed to have witnessed the gunshot. This lack of a clear account of what happened has left many questions unanswered in the years following the shooting.
Despite the collection of evidence from the scene, including items that had been handled by the other teenagers, the case remains unresolved. As of late 2020, the El Dorado Police Department had not publicly identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with Kaiden's death. Community members and online groups dedicated to "Justice for Kaiden Smith" continue to seek transparency and answers regarding the circumstances of his death. The investigation has been described as having "no updates," leaving a void for his family and community.
