Phillip S. Smith, a 21-year-old African American man from East St. Louis, Illinois, was killed on August 13, 2017 during an attempted robbery at the former Norman E. Owens housing complex in East St. Louis. Smith and another 21-year-old man from Belleville were both shot; Smith died of his wounds and the other victim was hospitalized with multiple gunshot injuries and later released.

Following the shooting, Illinois State Police agents arrested two men in November 2017: 20-year-old Devonte Lindsey of Centreville and 24-year-old Shavon Brownlee of East St. Louis. Both were charged in connection with the incident and were later sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

What details about the night at the housing complex might still help explain how the robbery turned deadly, and can anyone who was in the area on August 13, 2017 add information?