Frank Aaron Shine Blackshell, 60, of Smithfield, North Carolina, was fatally shot in the head while seated in a car parked on Harris Street in East Smithfield on June 19, 2021. The shooting happened about 5:15 AM; Blackshell was taken to Wake Memorial Hospital and died a few hours later.

Investigators linked 19-year-old Sincere Shamar McLean of Fuquay Varina to the killing. Police recovered a Taurus 9mm handgun in McLean’s possession that matched ballistic evidence from the scene. McLean was charged with first-degree murder and related offenses; he later pled guilty to second-degree murder and received a 20 to 25 year prison sentence. The Smithfield Police Department, assisted by the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation and the Fayetteville Police Department, handled the investigation.

Blackshell was remembered by family and friends for his athleticism, his 100 watt smile, and his community involvement. He graduated from Smithfield-Selma High School and attended Elizabeth City State University on a basketball scholarship; he was a member of Iota Phi Theta and enjoyed basketball and baseball. Does anyone have memories of Shine or information about his life in Smithfield to share?