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Curtis Rashad Smothers Jr., 25, was shot and killed on July 2, 2020, in the 400 block of Loras Boulevard in Dubuque, Iowa. The father of one and a Dubuque resident, Smothers had moved to the city with his mother after eighth grade, graduated from Dubuque Senior High School, and was engaged to be married. He enjoyed basketball, weightlifting, and music.
Police say a verbal argument turned into a physical fight shortly before 6 p.m., when 25-year-old Deonte WB Ellison drew a handgun and shot Smothers in the chest. Smothers was taken to MercyOne Dubuque and pronounced dead on arrival. Traffic camera footage helped investigators reconstruct the sequence of events.
Ellison was identified as the suspect and warrants were issued charging him with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm as a felon; authorities warned he should be considered dangerous and not approached. He was later taken into custody by U.S. Marshals in Michigan. The shooting clearly devastated Smothers family and friends, who remembered him as a loving father, fiancé, son, and brother.
Did anyone in Dubuque see or hear anything on Loras Boulevard that evening that could add detail to what happened?