On a spring evening in Roanoke, Virginia, the life of 37-year-old Donye Lamont Smith, a Black/African American male, was tragically cut short. On May 7, 2017, Smith was the victim of a fatal shooting that occurred during an attempted armed robbery in the 1100 block of Loudon Avenue NW. He was transported to Roanoke Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day, May 8, 2017.
Born in Roanoke, Donye Smith had spent a significant part of his childhood in Eden, North
Carolina, before returning to his birthplace after completing high school. He was a father to a son and a daughter. His sudden and violent death sent ripples of grief through his community, leaving behind a loving family and many friends who remembered him as a kind and cherished individual.
In the wake of the shooting, the Roanoke Police Department launched an investigation that quickly led to a suspect. Lacquaine Myers, 29 years old at the time, turned himself in to the authorities. Initially, Myers was charged with second-degree murder in connection with Smith's death. However, the legal process saw the charge against him elevated to first-degree murder.
Lacquaine Myers eventually pleaded no contest to the charge of first-degree murder. In addition to the murder charge, he also entered no-contest pleas for attempted robbery and two weapons-related charges. Following his plea, Myers faced the possibility of a life sentence in prison for his role in the death of Donye Smith. His sentencing was scheduled for January 26, 2018.
