Lari Ploszewski-Brisco, a 43-year-old mother of five and a grandmother, was tragically killed on the morning of August 28, 2022, in Detroit, Michigan. Known as a dedicated and hardworking single mother, she was in the process of moving her family to a new home. On that Sunday morning, she had taken a rideshare to a U-Haul store, but found it was closed.
While waiting for another ride in the area of Wyoming and Seven Mile, she was senselessly shot multiple times.
Her death was part of a random shooting spree that terrorized the Detroit community that day. The shooter, identified as 19-year-old Dontae Ramon Smith, was responsible for the deaths of two other individuals in addition to Ploszewski-Brisco. Another man and his dog were also injured during the rampage. Ploszewski-Brisco worked two jobs to support her family, including as a beloved waitress at a Ram's Horn restaurant and as a medical receptionist. Her warm and friendly nature left a lasting impact on her regular customers and coworkers.
The Detroit Police Department swiftly apprehended Dontae Ramon Smith in connection with the deadly shootings. He was subsequently charged with three counts of second-degree murder, one count of assault with intent to murder, one count of killing or torturing an animal, and five counts of felony firearm. In January 2025, Smith pleaded guilty but mentally ill to the charges brought against him. A plea agreement was reached for a sentence of 28 to 50 years in the Michigan Department of Corrections, with his sentencing scheduled for February 28, 2025. The community rallied around Ploszewski-Brisco's grieving family, organizing fundraisers and a GoFundMe campaign to help with funeral costs and provide support for her five children.
