Brooke Elizabeth Smith, 24, was shot and killed the evening of May 26, 2026, at the Creeks Edge Condos northwest of Gainesville High School. A nursing student at the University of Florida just weeks from graduation, she also worked at Yoga Pod. Friends described her as bright, funny, kind, and caring, and she was seen as someone who planned a career in pediatric nursing.

Authorities say the shooting followed a confrontation with her ex-boyfriend, 31-year-old Xavion Perry III, and occurred as Smith was attempting to end or distance herself from the relationship. Officers found her with life-threatening injuries when they arrived after reports of gunshots; she died despite life-saving efforts.

Perry fled the scene and led law enforcement on a multi-county pursuit that ended when he abandoned his vehicle near the Main Street Pier and was believed to have entered the ocean. A body that washed ashore the next morning in Ormond Beach was later confirmed to be his. The case has focused attention on dating and domestic violence in Gainesville in 2026.

Did anyone in the area know Brooke or see activity around Creeks Edge Condos that night?