In the early morning hours of July 1, 2016, the life of 30-year-old Christopher Jerome Smith was tragically cut short in Gulfport, Mississippi. His body was discovered on the back porch of an apartment at the Gulf Mist apartment complex, the victim of a fatal gunshot wound to the chest.
An investigation into the shooting revealed that Smith had been involved in an argument with another man, 25-year-old Michael Phillip Peden of Gulfport.
The confrontation escalated, and Peden allegedly drew a handgun, firing shots that struck Smith in the upper torso. Following the shooting, Peden fled the scene but remained in the vicinity.
Gulfport police, responding to calls of shots fired around 3:30 a.m., located and arrested Peden. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. Peden's bond was set at $1 million.
Further details emerged, indicating a pre-existing conflict. Smith had been officially banned from the Gulf Mist apartment complex, where he frequently visited his girlfriend. The management had issued a 'no-trespass notice' against him. Despite this, his girlfriend had attempted to have him added to her lease, a request that was denied due to the notice. On the night of the shooting, Smith and his ex-girlfriend had reportedly exchanged text messages, and she had contacted Peden out of fear. Detectives suspected that Peden went to the apartment where Smith was and shot him during their argument.
In a peculiar turn of events, Peden initially presented himself to police as an eyewitness. He was the one who flagged down officers and led them to Smith's body, claiming he had seen the killing and heard the gunshots. However, his story unraveled during the investigation. The weapon believed to have been used in the shooting was a single-action revolver, a detail authorities found unusual. Peden allegedly told police where the gun could be found. The case was eventually sent to a Harrison County grand jury.
