WSVN — After a lifetime of working, Marcus Smith had retired, but he still liked to do what gave him joy: helping people. And while helping someone, he was murdered. You may not know who did it, but some people do and hopefully that can now be found after tonight’s Out for Justice with Patrick Fraser.
If you live your life well, you might be a hero to someone. So what does it say about Marcus Smith, who was a hero to many people?
Carla Smith: “He was a great, great, great man. A good husband. He was a great father.”
Marcus had retired as a Division Chief at Miami-Dade Corrections, enjoying life and still doing things he loved, like helping people.
Carla Smith: “Marcus being Marcus, he was there to oversee that everything went OK.”
On July 16, 2013, Marcus was in the front yard of his in-laws’ Miami house, making sure some workers installed their new windows correctly.
Detective Ezra Washington: “Two unknown assailants approached him. They walked past him, we believe, and then they attacked him from the rear.”
The two suspects tried to get a simple gold chain around Marcus’ neck. He said, ‘No.’ They shot him. Carla got the horrible call at work.
Carla Smith: “I just remember praying all the way to the hospital. I mean, you never think it’s going to be … he’s going to be gone.”
Marcus was dead. The two men suspects took off running.
Detective Ezra Washington: “One of the witnesses saw two offenders running away. Two young black males running away, running eastbound on 44th Street.”
Patrick Fraser: “The suspects were both in their 20s, both black. One about 6 feet tall with a medium complexion. A witness got a better look at the second suspect, a short fellow about 5-foot-8 with a slim build and a dark complexion. He was wearing a hoodie and a knit cap with a logo.”
Detective Washington wants to meet him face to face.
Detective Ezra Washington: “As long as I’m doing this job, I’m not going to stop looking. I’m not going to give up. I have a few leads, but somebody knows something. Somebody was there, somebody saw something, somebody was told something. This could be anybody. This could be my father, your father. It could be anybody.”
A good man was gunned down. A wife and two sons are devastated, and a mother-in-law lives her life in shock.
Carla Smith: “My mom literally cries every day. I know she does because it happened at her house. They shouldn’t have to go through this.”
Somebody knows who the suspects are who shot Marcus and stole his gold chain. But so far, somebody is afraid to say something.
Carla Smith: “I know, I know that people know, but because of this stupidity about being a snitch.”
The bright light in Carla’s family, Marcus, has been wiped out, and their lives are forever changed.
Carla Smith: “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think about him, and every day is a struggle.”
A phone call could help. A phone call with the name or names of two people who shot a man out helping his in-laws. If you know something, anything, make that anonymous call.
And if you have lost a loved one and want to remind people you are still out for justice, give us a call. With this Out for Justice, I’m Patrick Fraser, 7News.
CONTACT OUT FOR JUSTICE:
Miami-Dade: 305-598-HELP (4357)
Broward: 954-796-HELP (4357)