Robert LaWayne Smith Jr. was 22 when he was killed in North Little Rock in the early hours of November 5, 2020. Officers responding to gunfire near the 1300 block of Pine Street found two wounded men at about 12:45 a.m.; Robert Smith was pronounced dead at the scene and 21-year-old Jalen Lambert was taken to a hospital in critical condition. Police described the incident as isolated and released only the victims’ names and ages while asking the public for tips.

Robert’s family and friends remembered him as charismatic and hardworking, a merchandiser and fixture installer who traveled for work but returned to North Little Rock, where he had deep roots. Online memorials and his obituary emphasize a close, large family and the gap his death left; relatives have written that they believe the shooting was an ambush and have called for justice.