Dequal Smiley was 17 when he was shot and killed on the morning of May 12, 2017, at the Canopy Creek Apartments on Jacksonville’s Northside. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting at about 8:30 a.m. and found Dequal in a parking lot toward the back of the complex with life-threatening wounds; he was taken to a hospital and later died. Witnesses said the shooter fled in a stolen vehicle that then crashed into multiple cars before the suspect ran off on foot.

Despite the chaotic scene and property damage, no suspects have been identified and the investigation remains open. The shooting has had a deep impact on the local community, and advocacy groups have worked to keep the case visible.

If anyone has information that could help solve Dequal’s killing, contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office or Crime Stoppers.