On the night of September 26, 2018, in Greenville, Mississippi, the life of 28-year-old Arby Moses, a Black male, was tragically cut short. Responding to a call of a shooting in the 500 block of McAlister Street, officers from the Greenville Police Department discovered Moses grievously wounded. In his final moments, as an officer was by his side, Moses managed to utter the name of his alleged assailant: “Lil Norris.”
He was rushed to Delta Regional Medical Center, but unfortunately, he was pronounced deceased.
The investigation into Moses's death began immediately, with detectives quickly gathering evidence and speaking to people in the area. Witnesses reported that after Moses had been in the vicinity and left, they heard several gunshots. Shortly after, a panicked individual they knew as “Black,” later identified as Norris Smith, Jr., approached them and confessed that he had just shot Arby. Another key witness provided a more direct account, stating they saw a black sedan with out-of-state license plates in the area just before the shooting. This witness testified to seeing Smith get out of the car, spot Moses, and then shoot him.
Based on the victim's dying declaration and compelling witness statements, authorities located and questioned Norris Smith, Jr. Initially, he denied any involvement in the shooting. However, the evidence against him was substantial. In addition to the eyewitness accounts, a forensic analysis revealed gunshot residue on Smith's hands. Following this, he was arrested and charged with the homicide of Arby Moses.
Faced with the evidence that would be presented at his upcoming trial, Norris Smith, Jr., who was 23 years old at the time of his conviction, chose to plead guilty to Second Degree Murder. He was sentenced to 35 years in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections. The terms of his sentence require him to serve 20 years, with the remaining 15 years potentially suspended if he successfully completes five years of post-release supervision.
