Daniel Smith, 34, was fatally shot on the evening of January 22, 2014, while sitting in his car at the College Glen Apartments in Lacey, Washington. The shooting occurred about 5 p.m. during a meeting Smith had arranged to sell marijuana; it was not described as a random act. Court documents state five young men planned to steal the drugs. Four approached Smith’s vehicle; after a brief exchange about seeing the marijuana and the money, Ronny G. McDaniel reportedly drew a gun. As Smith attempted to drive away, McDaniel fired, striking him in the shoulder. Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.

Arrests were made quickly. Erick Adamczewski, 19, Steven Petit, 18, and a juvenile, Ryan S. Anderson, were taken at the scene. Ronny G. McDaniel, 17 at the time, and Nicholas Armajo, 16 at the time, fled but were arrested in Idaho the next day. All five were charged in the murder. In later proceedings reported before August 2016, four defendants pleaded guilty to robbery or manslaughter-related charges and received custodial sentences; McDaniel, the accused shooter, was awaiting trial as of August 2016.