A Memphis man has been charged in the tragic death of a local young mother of three. According to Action News 5, 27-year-old Deangelo Mitchell was arrested after the shooting death of 23-year-old Jyrah Smith, which occurred last Friday morning. Smith, a mother of children aged one, three, and six, was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the face by her brother as he was leaving for work.
Memphis Police Department, responding to the incident around 5:53 AM, found Smith deceased on the scene on East Georgia Avenue. Despite previously facing domestic violence charges and violations of bond conditions, Mitchell is now facing a charge of second-degree murder, as outlined by reports from FOX13. He is detained on a $760,000 bond and will appear in court today.
The death of Jyrah Smith is being regarded as a domestic violence incident, as articulated by her father, Tamarkus Smith. As per FOX13, Mr. Smith issued a cautionary message, saying, "There's always going to be some type of red flag, no matter if they put their hands on you, threaten you in a type of way, those are the signs. Leave before something bad happens." He hopes that sharing his daughter's story will serve as a warning to others about the dangers of domestic violence.
Alongside the criminal proceedings, the Smith family is mourning their loss and has taken steps to plan Jyrah's funeral and a candlelight vigil in her memory. Trying to raise money for her funeral costs, the family has created a GoFundMe campaign. Offering support, Tamarkus Smith voiced his anguish to WREG, "After I seen my baby laying out there, it just traumatizes you because this is the first time I’ve lost a child. She’s supposed to be burying me. I’m not supposed to bury her."
