On the evening of May 7, 2017, in the 1100 block of Loudon Avenue NW in Roanoke, Virginia, 37-year-old Donye Lamont Smith was shot during an attempted armed robbery. He was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital and died of his injuries on May 8, 2017. Smith, born in Roanoke and having spent part of his childhood in Eden, North Carolina, returned to his hometown after finishing high school. He was a father to a son and a daughter and is remembered by family and friends as a kind person.

Roanoke Police identified a suspect quickly after the shooting. Lacquaine Myers, 29 at the time, turned himself in and was initially charged with second-degree murder; the charge was later elevated to first-degree murder. Myers entered no-contest pleas to first-degree murder, attempted robbery and two weapons-related charges, with sentencing set for January 26, 2018.

If anyone knew Donye or has information about what happened that night, please share what you remember.