Billie Louise Smith, born December 8, 1934, was fatally shot in Dayton, Ohio, on March 5, 1973, after an assailant entered Old Hickory BBQ on East Third Street and fired at close range. She had been sitting at the far end of the bar the night before; despite surviving long enough to reach the hospital, she died during surgery in the early hours of March 5. Two bullet holes in a wall indicate some shots missed, and no one else was injured.

Billie co-owned the restaurant with her husband Rodney Smith and partner George Lawson and was well known in the neighborhood. She did not recognize her attacker, no clear motive was established, and several theories were floated but no definitive suspect was identified. The case remains open with the Ohio Attorney General’s Office seeking tips.

If anyone has information about that night or remembers unusual activity around Old Hickory BBQ on March 4, 1973, please share what you know.