Donnie Smith: Ohio teens who 'laughed' and 'enjoyed themselves' while fatally beating father-of-3 face murder charges
COLUMBUS, OHIO: Three Ohio teenagers were slapped with murder charges on Wednesday, December 20, a couple of days after a father-of-three died from severe head injuries which he suffered from an attack in early December outside of a Kroger supermarket in Columbus.
Jamarion Fredrae Evans-Bennett, 19, Dionta Davon Hughes, 18, and a 17-year-old male allegedly had a fight with shoppers inside the Kroger on South High Street on the night of December 6. According to the Columbus Police Department, when store security told to the teens to leave, they waited outside for Donald “Donnie” Smith Jr, 53, to exit the store and attacked him.
The teenagers 'laughed' and 'enjoyed themselves' while attacking Donald 'Donnie' Smith Jr
Police said that the defendants were allegedly spotted “laughing and enjoying themselves” while fatally kicking and punching Smith outside the store at around 7 pm but fled the scene when an armed witness confronted them.
Donald 'Donnie' Smith Jr had to undergo brain surgery
On December 14, authorities reported that they were investigating the attack as a felonious assault that left Smith in critical condition. A GoFundMe campaign started under the name of Nicole Evans, Donnie Smith’s longtime partner and the mother to his daughter, six, and son, 15, revealed that the victim was “injured so severely that he had to undergo brain surgery.”
“Despite doctors efforts to save his life, Donnie did not make it. He had no insurance, leaving the cost for funeral services to Nicole. He also left behind their two young children, just a week before Christmas,” a post said.
Donald 'Donnie' Smith Jr's partner is 'devastated' after his death
In an interview with local ABC affiliate WSYX, Evans said she is “devastated” and “sick to [her] stomach” over Donnie’s death. “It’s just sickening, and I cannot believe you would take another person’s life,” Evans said, adding “It was a random act of violence.”
Evans said that Smith was a “great father” loved by his children, family and friends. “I don’t know how you could just take another person’s life so senselessly,” she said, revealing that her six-year-old daughter has begun to realize her father can’t go to the park or draw with her anymore.
Donnie Smith’s family said that the father of two sons and one daughter, and grandfather to one granddaughter, died on December 18, one week before Christmas. Smith “loved race cars, softball, and sports,” his obituary stated.
According to Franklin County court records, Evans-Bennett and Hughes were arrested on Wednesday, December 20, and had arraignments scheduled for Thursday morning, December 21. The third suspect, a minor, was arrested the same day as his co-defendants. It’s unclear at this time if the 17-year-old is being charged as an adult.
