In the late summer of 2007, the life of 18-year-old Demarcus 'D-Mac' Leon Womack was tragically cut short. On the evening of Friday, August 31, 2007, in Richmond, Virginia, Womack was fatally wounded by gunfire. The incident occurred around 8:30 p.m. in the 400 block of Westover Street in the city's South Side. Responding to reports of random gunfire, police discovered Womack, who had been shot.
He was transported to VCU Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries the following day, September 1, 2007.
The investigation into the shooting moved swiftly. Within days, Richmond police had identified a suspect and made an arrest. Jerel T. Smith, a 20-year-old resident of the 4500 block of Midlothian Turnpike, was taken into custody on September 5, 2007. He was charged with murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony in connection with Womack's death. Authorities reported that the shooting stemmed from an ongoing dispute between the two young men.
Following his arrest, Jerel T. Smith faced legal proceedings. In January 2008, a Richmond grand jury indicted him on charges of murder, use of a firearm in the commission of a felony, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Smith's trial took place in the Richmond Circuit Court. In May 2008, a jury found him guilty of voluntary manslaughter, use of a firearm in the commission of manslaughter, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. For these crimes, he received a total sentence of 18 years in prison. The jury recommended a 10-year sentence for manslaughter, three years for the use of a firearm during the offense, and five years for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
