In the early morning hours of February 4, 2019, tragedy struck on the south side of Indianapolis, claiming the life of Roger Keith Smith Jr., a 39-year-old Black male. Smith, known affectionately to friends and family as "3 Lil Rog" or simply "R," was a dedicated father of four and a labor foreman in the construction industry. He had attended Broad Ripple and Franklin Central schools and was remembered by his loved ones for his sweet, funny personality and his loyalty.
Indianapolis
Metropolitan Police Department officers were dispatched to the 4400 block of South Meridian Street around 12:43 a.m. following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, first responders discovered Smith suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Despite emergency efforts, he succumbed to his injuries, marking one of two fatal shootings to occur in the city during that single overnight period. The violence of the night stretched police resources, as investigators simultaneously worked a separate homicide scene at a roller skating rink on the city's northwest side where another man had been killed just minutes earlier.
Detectives from the IMPD Homicide Branch launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Smith's death. While initial reports did not immediately identify a perpetrator, the case eventually saw progress. According to local crime databases tracking Indianapolis homicides for that year, the investigation into Roger Smith's death was later updated with a status indicating that an arrest had been made. Although specific details regarding the suspect's identity and subsequent court proceedings were not widely publicized in the immediate aftermath, the case was classified as solved by police action rather than remaining an open cold case.
Roger Smith Jr.'s death left a void in his family, who mourned him as a loving son, father, brother, and friend. He was survived by his father, Roger Smith Sr., his children, and his siblings, while being preceded in death by his mother and grandparents. In the wake of the violence, friends and community members lit dozens of candles in his memory, recalling a hardworking man who had goals for himself and his family before his life was cut short.
