Carlos Smith Jr

Carlos Smith Jr., a 30-year-old Black man known for his music and remembered by loved ones as loyal, genuine, and "a light," was shot and killed in Baltimore, Maryland, on the afternoon of Sunday, November 7, 2021. His death was part of an unimaginable series of tragedies for his family, occurring just weeks after his brother-in-law was killed and two weeks before his sister also lost her life to gun violence.

Those who knew Carlos remember him as a father to four children and a rapper who performed under the names ABAD KRUNCH and KRUNCH DA MENACE. His music is available on streaming services, a lasting testament to his artistic pursuits. Friends and family posting on a memorial page recalled his authentic and raw personality, with one person affectionately calling him "My Fav" and expressing how much they loved and missed him.

The fatal shooting occurred at approximately 2:02 p.m. in the 2500 block of Hollins Street in the city's Southwest District. When Baltimore Police Department officers arrived at the scene, they found Carlos suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the location. The circumstances that led to the shooting have not been publicly released by authorities. The incident was one of several shootings that took place in Baltimore on that day alone.

Carlos’s murder was a devastating blow to his mother, Alecia Boston, who found herself mourning three of her children in the span of just 76 days. Her ordeal began in September 2021 when her son-in-law, Travis Ben-Watkins, was shot and killed. Two months later, she lost Carlos. Then, just two weeks after Carlos's death, her daughter, Adia Smith, was shot and killed at a Burger King in nearby Woodlawn. An arrest was later made in Adia's case.

In the face of such profound loss, Alecia Boston has spoken out, drawing strength from her faith. “I just know they’re in a better place. I don’t have to worry now,” she shared in an interview. While carrying the immense weight of her grief, she has also expressed a deep empathy for other mothers in Baltimore who have lost children to violence. “My heart breaks constantly,” she said. “When is it going to stop, when is it going to end?” Boston has called on city leaders to focus less on political disputes and more on providing safe places and opportunities for young people.

Following his death, a viewing for Carlos was held on November 18, 2021, at Wylie Funeral Home in Baltimore, allowing friends and family to gather and pay their respects.

The investigation into the homicide of Carlos Smith Jr. is being handled by the Baltimore Police Department. As of the most recent reports, no arrests have been announced in connection with his murder, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case remains open and unsolved. The profound questions of who took his life and why remain unanswered, leaving his family and community still waiting for justice.