Demauryon V. Smith was a 16-year-old African American male from Belleville who was shot on June 24, 2020, about 5:30 PM in the 6300 block of West Washington Street. Officers found him with a gunshot wound to the chest; he was taken to Belleville Memorial Hospital, then airlifted to a St. Louis hospital where he died. The St. Louis Medical Examiner’s Office listed the cause of death as a gunshot wound to the chest.

The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis led the investigation. Investigators were able to obtain information from Demauryon before he died that aided the inquiry. Police said the shooting was tied to a drug deal gone wrong, and six people were charged in connection with his murder. Those charged included Keandre D. Hollins, 21, and Olivia R. Willey, 19, of Champaign; Nicholas A. Lester, 17, and Marquis C. Triplette, 16, of Belleville; Nolan R. Birge, 18, of O’Fallon; and Tarik M. Horton, 19, of Belleville. Arrests were made the Friday and Saturday after the shooting.

Anyone who knew Demauryon or has information about what happened that evening is asked to come forward.