MEMPHIS, Tenn — A Memphis man has been arraigned in the June 2023 shooting death of a 3-year-old child.
Christopher Smith, 33, of Memphis was indicted on charges of first-degree murder, attempted first degree murder, and related firearms offenses. He was indicted Feb. 13, 2024, according to court records, and is currently in the Shelby County Jail without bond.
Around 11:00 p.m., June 20, 2023, Memphis Police officers said they responded to a shooting call on the 3400 block of West Winchester Place at a Whitehaven apartment complex. According to the police affidavit, another man and his estranged girlfriend got into an argument. The affidavit said Smith, who was the woman's current boyfriend, showed up and got into a fight with the first man and another man. The affidavit said Smith fired two shots and left the scene in a black SUV, but then returned minutes later.
According to the affidavit, when Smith returned, witnesses said he approached a group of people which included the man, and fired several shots into the crowd, striking a child. The affidavit said he then took off again in the black SUV. A 3-year-old was struck and taken to a hospital but did not survive, according to the Marshals' press release.
The next day, a warrant was issued for Smith's arrest.
Wednesday morning, Aug. 18, the U.S. Marshals Service said members of the U.S. Marshals Smokey Mountain Regional Fugitive Task Force and Coffee County Sheriff’s Office said Smith was spotted walking along the road in Tullahoma, Tennessee. They said they arrested Smith without incident, and he was taken to the Coffee County Jail. He has since been extradited to Shelby County.
According to the affidavit in the case, Smith has prior convictions for aggravated burglary in 2011 and aggravated robbery in 2012.
