Darrell Lavinne Smith, II, a 16-year-old Black male from Lansing, Michigan, passed away on March 31, 2021. Known affectionately as 'Dee,' he was an active and vibrant member of his community. Smith was deeply involved with the Friendship House of Prayer Baptist Church, where he served as a Junior Deacon and Junior Usher, played the piano and saxophone, sang in the choir, and helped lead prayer.
A promising student, Darrell attended Shabazz Academy from preschool through sixth grade, where he consistently achieved Honor Roll recognition and received Malcolm X Scholar Awards. He continued his education at Sexton High School, participating in a wide array of extracurricular activities, including football, basketball, baseball, wrestling, track, and the robotics club. He was also a member of the Sexton Choir and the Sexton High School Marching Band.
On the morning of March 31, 2021, Darrell was shot in the vicinity of Burneway and Seaway drives in southwest Lansing. He sustained serious injuries and was transported to a local hospital, where he died later that night. His death was one of eight homicides involving teenagers in Lansing that year.
The investigation into Darrell's death led to the arrest of 18-year-old Deshown Ernesto Clark Jr. Clark was charged with first-degree murder and felony firearm possession. Following a three-day trial in Eaton County Circuit Court, a jury found Clark guilty of both charges after deliberating for approximately seven hours over two days. The conviction for first-degree murder carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, while the felony firearm possession charge carries a mandatory two-year prison sentence.
