Three youngsters have been arrested and charged with the homicide of Donnie Smith, a 53-year-old father of three, following a brutal assault that occurred exterior a Kroger grocery store.
Within the wake of the mindless violence, the Columbus Police Division introduced the detention of three younger people recognized as Dionta Davon Hughes, 18; Jamarion Fredrae Evans-Bennett, 19; and a 17-year-old Jayden Agee, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
On the court docket listening to on Thursday, the 17-year-old suspect selected to not seem, however his household attended in his stead. His mom, displaying seen emotion through the proceedings, made a quick assertion, in accordance with NBC4i.
“This situation is deeply serious and troubling, and I am truly heartbroken. My sincerest apologies go out to the victim’s family and all those affected. I request for my son to be allowed home with an ankle monitor,” she expressed.
The protection argued for {the teenager}’s launch into his household’s care, whereas the prosecution countered, citing security considerations.
Justice of the Peace Woodrow Hudson, addressing the severity of the costs, determined in opposition to the discharge of the minor. “In light of the grave allegations, I cannot approve his release from the juvenile intervention center. He will remain here until the probable cause hearing,” he declared.
Hughes and Evans-Bennett are being detained below a $1 million bond.
The assault, which occurred on December 6, resulted in Smith succumbing to extreme head accidents two weeks afterward.
Police experiences point out that Smith reportedly acquired into an altercation with the suspects contained in the grocery retailer. The battle intensified when safety requested the teenagers to depart the shop, resulting in a continued confrontation exterior.
The affidavit included within the court docket paperwork reveals that officers examined safety footage of the assault, which confirmed Hughes, Evans-Bennett, and Agee following Smith Jr. as he left the Kroger retailer. The video proof captured the second the three suspects abruptly knocked Smith Jr. to the bottom after which proceeded to kick and punch him, in accordance with the information.
Witnesses to the occasion recount that the teenagers have been “laughing and enjoying themselves” as they dealt cruel blows to the person, ceasing solely when an armed witness intervened to place a direct halt to the assault.
In keeping with police, the three suspects left the scene in a crimson car.
Following the demise of Smith, the costs in opposition to the three people have been escalated from felonious assault to homicide. Moreover, the case was reassigned from the theft unit to murder detectives for additional investigation.
WSXY-TV reported:
“Donnie was an amazing person,” mentioned Nicole Evans, as she described her companion of 20 years and the daddy of her 15-year-old son and six-year-old daughter. “He was a great father, he loved his kids, they were his world.”
Evans says Smith was grocery purchasing with pals when the incident occurred.
“They just grabbed him and beat him to death,” mentioned Evans. “It was a random act of violence.”
“It sickening,” mentioned Evans, “I don’t know how anyone could do that to a human being.”
Because the group reels from the assault, a GoFundMe web page has been set as much as help Smith’s kids shifting ahead.
From the fundraising page:
“Donnie Smith was brutally attacked by a group of men at Kroger… He was injured so severely that he had to undergo brain surgery. Despite doctors efforts to save his life, Donnie did not make it. He had no insurance, leaving the cost for funeral services to Nicole. He also left behind their two young children, just a week before Christmas. Any amount of help will be greatly appreciated during this hard time for his family.”
