On a Friday night in April 2014, tragedy struck in the parking lot of East English Village Preparatory Academy on the east side of Detroit. A 19-year-old male, Darryl Smith, was attending a school performance when gunfire erupted. Smith was struck by the bullets and was rushed to a local hospital. His family and friends held onto hope for two days, but on Sunday, he succumbed to his injuries.
The evening had been a celebratory one, as the school hosted its 'Grammy Night.'
After the event, as people were leaving, a car, described by witnesses as a burgundy or red Impala or Grand Am, circled the area. Occupants of the vehicle then opened fire into a crowd of people in the parking lot, tragically cutting Smith's life short. Detroit Police officials at the time stated their belief that the shooting was the result of a dispute between two local street gangs.
In the aftermath of the shooting, law enforcement emphasized that Darryl Smith was an innocent bystander and not involved in any gang activity. He was remembered as a good person with a bright future who was focused on his goals. Despite the police department's assertions that they knew who the rival gangs were and their commitment to dismantling them, initial reports indicated that no immediate arrests had been made in connection with the shooting. The investigation into the senseless death of Darryl Smith was launched as his family mourned the loss of a young man with a promising life ahead of him. There is no publicly available information regarding any subsequent arrests or the filing of charges against any suspects in his murder.
