Eric James Smith, a 21-year-old Black sophomore at West Virginia University majoring in multidisciplinary studies, was fatally shot in the early morning hours of February 28, 2020, at the College Park apartment complex in Morgantown. According to reports, an argument and physical altercation over money and possessions in the parking lot involved Smith and two men who drove to the complex with him, identified as Terrell Linear, 21, and Shaundarius T. Reeder, 20, both of Fairmont.

After Smith walked into one of the apartment buildings, Linear and Reeder followed. Linear reportedly pounded on multiple apartment doors before Smith came into a hallway and was shot multiple times. Police were called around 4 a.m. and found Smith’s body. Linear and Reeder were arrested shortly afterward at a nearby Walmart and a weapon was recovered. Linear was charged with first-degree murder; Reeder was charged with conspiracy to commit murder, and some early reports also listed a first-degree murder charge for him.

The prosecutor described the argument earlier that morning as the motive. Does anyone have information about the earlier dispute or the events in the parking lot that morning?