Aveon Isaiah Collins-Smith was 25 when he was fatally shot on January 16, 2023, while seated in his vehicle at The District at Tar River apartment complex in Greenville, North Carolina. After suffering multiple gunshot wounds, including two to the torso and injuries to his right hand, Collins-Smith managed to drive about half a block before crashing into an occupied apartment at the corner of Oak Street and First Street. He was taken to ECU Health Medical Center, where he died. The apartment resident suffered non-life-threatening injuries from the crash.

Detectives treated the shooting as targeted and arrested a 16-year-old male two days later, on January 18, 2023; the juvenile was taken into custody without incident at a Wendy’s on U.S. 264 in Greenville and his name was withheld because of his age. In August 2023 detectives also charged 22-year-old Russhad Gardner with murder and robbery with a dangerous weapon in connection with the death; the new evidence linking Gardner was not described. The investigation into motive was ongoing and authorities said further arrests were possible.

If anyone has information about Collins-Smith, his movements that night, or the people involved, please come forward.