Derrick Devante Smith, a 24-year-old African American male, was tragically shot and killed on May 28, 2017, in the Holly Heights neighborhood of Gainesville, Florida. The incident occurred around 7:11 p.m. when deputies from the Alachua County Sheriff's Office responded to reports of a shooting on Southwest 67th Terrace. Upon arrival, they found Smith lying on the ground, suffering from gunshot wounds.
Despite efforts to revive him, Smith was pronounced dead at UF Health Shands Hospital later that evening.
The investigation into Smith's death revealed that the shooting was allegedly carried out by 18-year-old Ty’Lek Scarborough. According to witnesses, Scarborough had announced his intention to "shoot up the place" while driving through the neighborhood earlier that day. This statement was initially dismissed by those present, including Smith's brother, Dominick Taylor, who believed Scarborough was not serious due to their shared history growing up together. However, moments later, Scarborough allegedly opened fire, fatally wounding Smith as he stood about 15 feet away.
The motive behind the shooting appears to be linked to a prior altercation in the Tower Oaks area earlier that day. Rumors suggested that an individual involved in a fight in Holly Heights had retaliated by firing shots in Tower Oaks, which subsequently led to the fatal shooting of Smith. However, neither Smith nor his family were involved in the initial altercation. The Alachua County Sheriff's Office confirmed they were aware of these rumors but had not recovered any evidence of the earlier shooting.
Following the incident, Ty’Lek Scarborough turned himself in to the Alachua County Jail on June 1, 2017. His 17-year-old brother, James Scarborough, was also arrested at Buchholz High School and charged with first-degree murder. Both brothers were held in custody as the investigation continued, with authorities searching for the murder weapon and gathering additional information.
Derrick Devante Smith's death left a profound impact on his family and community. Described as a "very loving and caring" individual, Smith was remembered fondly by his mother, Mary LaShawn Griffin, and his brother, Dominick Taylor. The family prepared to lay Smith to rest, mourning the loss of a young man who had always ensured his mother's well-being and maintained close bonds with his loved ones.
