On a summer afternoon in Trenton, New Jersey, the life of 29-year-old RahKeem Aziz Ortiz was tragically cut short. Known to many by his nickname 'Smilez,' Ortiz was a Hispanic male with a passion for rap music, often sharing his talent on social media platforms. He was a father and was remembered by his family and friends for the love he shared.
The fatal encounter occurred on August 17, 2020, in a public parking lot near South Warren and West Front streets in downtown Trenton. Around 1:40 p.m., in the light of day, Ortiz was shot multiple times. First responders found him with multiple gunshot wounds and rushed him to a nearby hospital, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival.
The investigation into the shooting was spearheaded by the Mercer County Homicide Task Force.
Detectives utilized surveillance footage from the area and gathered statements from witnesses, which led them to identify a suspect in the brazen daylight shooting. The man they identified as the alleged gunman was 29-year-old Arthur Ford, a resident of Trenton.
A manhunt for Ford ensued, and on August 25, 2020, he was located and apprehended. Members of the U.S. Marshals Regional Fugitive Task Force took him into custody at a family member's home in Pocomoke, Maryland. Ford was subsequently charged with murder and weapons offenses in connection with the death of RahKeem Ortiz. Following his arrest, he was held at the Worcester County Detention Center in Snow Hill, Maryland, as he awaited extradition back to New Jersey to face the charges against him. While an arrest was made, the motive behind the shooting was not immediately made public by the authorities.
