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Courtney (Cortez) Smith

Case from Detroit, MI dated May 05, 2011

Victim Details

Courtney (Cortez) Smith

Male

Black / African American

Detroit

MI

2011-05-05

20

Courtney

(Cortez) Smith

07/03/2026

Case Description

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In the late hours of a Thursday evening in May 2011, a dispute outside a downtown Detroit nightclub escalated into a tragedy that claimed the life of 20-year-old Courtney 'Cortez' Smith. A promising Wayne State University football player, Smith was in the parking lot of Club Envy when a fight broke out. Known for his peacemaking nature, he stepped in to de-escalate the conflict. This act of mediation, however, tragically led to his untimely death.

The altercation that Smith tried to quell ...
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Links to Additional Sources (5)

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  • The South End: Men convicted in 2011 death of WSU football player
  • mlive: Fugitive wanted in connection with shooting death of Wayne State football player captured in Las Vegas
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    Forum Posts (2)

    Hey everyone,
    I've been reading through the case of Courtney Alan "Cortez" Smith, and I'm truly... ...Read More
    09/29/2024
    Hey everyone,
    Something that's been on my mind regarding Courtney Smith's tragic case is how the ... ...Read More
    01/12/2023
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