On the evening of November 15, 2021, a 22-year-old Caucasian male named Beckett Joseph Smith was fatally shot in Kennewick, Washington. The incident occurred at approximately 10:40 PM at an apartment complex on the 1300 block of West 10th Avenue. Police responded to a 911 call reporting a single gunshot and a woman screaming for help. Upon arrival, they discovered Smith on the sidewalk outside an apartment with a gunshot wound.
He was transported to Trios Southridge Hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
The investigation revealed a tragic sequence of events leading to the shooting. Smith was with a female resident of the apartment, Gia Muir, who had locked herself out. Believing the other resident, Jawan V. Osby, was not home as his car was not there, Smith and Muir knocked on the door and windows for about ten minutes without a response. In an attempt to help her get inside, Smith climbed through a window to unlock the front door. After successfully opening the door from the inside, Smith stepped out and motioned for Muir to enter. It was at this moment that Osby, who was inside the apartment, came out and fired a single shot, striking Smith in the left side of his body.
Jawan Osby, 27, was identified as the shooter and was taken into custody at the scene. He reportedly admitted to the shooting and turned over his 9mm handgun to the authorities. Osby was subsequently booked into the Benton County Jail on an investigative hold for second-degree manslaughter, with bail set at $250,000. It remains unclear from initial reports whether Osby mistook Smith for an intruder. Police have indicated that Smith and Osby were acquainted and had some form of friendship. Authorities also stated that drugs or alcohol were not considered factors in the incident, and it was not gang-related.
Beckett Joseph Smith, born on August 26, 1999, had spent a significant part of his life in Edmonds, Washington, where he was actively involved in arts and music. He later moved to the Tri-Cities area in 2013 and attended Kamiakin High School. His sudden death was a shock to his family and friends. A celebration of his life was held on January 7, 2022, at Hillspring Church in Richland.
