On April 23, 2024, 17-year-old Jacob Wade Smith was shot and pronounced dead at a home on Woodland Drive in Daleville, Alabama. The shooting followed an argument between Smith and a family member that escalated into violence; the Dale County Coroner pronounced him dead at the scene. Police had been called to the residence previously for misdemeanor incidents. An early report mentioned an arrest, but later information clarified that all parties were interviewed and no charges were filed at that time. The case was referred to the Dale County District Attorney’s office for further review.

Friends and family described Smith as kind, artistic, and smart; he had been working toward a GED and hoped to join the military. His mother said he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and that the family had sought help for his condition. She heard a commotion and then a gunshot the night he died and discovered him shot.

If anyone has information about what happened that night or knew Jacob, please share what you know with investigators.