Spartanburg police say a shooting that left a sleeping 7-month-old boy dead was not random. More than a year after gunfire tore through a Collins Avenue apartment, three suspects are now behind bars and investigators are still hunting for a fourth in what officials describe as a targeted attack.
The Seventh Circuit Solicitor's Office announced that Christopher Mallory, Darius Wright and a juvenile suspect have been arrested in connection with the shooting that killed Zymir Demarco Smith, according to FOX Carolina News. Mallory and Wright were both denied bond on charges of murder, discharging a firearm into a dwelling, and possession of a weapon during a violent crime, the outlet reported. The juvenile suspect was also charged in connection with the shooting, though it remains unclear whether the case will proceed through family or circuit court.
The shooting happened in the early morning hours at an apartment along Collins Avenue in Spartanburg, where Zymir was sleeping in bed next to his mother when gunfire erupted, per the same report. Prosecutors placed the shooting on August 2, 2025. Police previously said officers responded to reports of shots fired at 314 Collins Avenue, Apartment B, around 4:15 a.m. on August 3, 2025, and followed a trail of blood inside the residence before finding the infant unresponsive with a gunshot wound to his neck, according to GoUpstate. Spartanburg County Coroner Rusty Clevenger identified the infant as Zymir Demarco Smith, who was taken to Spartanburg Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Gunfire From Multiple Directions
Investigators say multiple suspects opened fire on both levels of the apartment building, and officers recovered 17 shell casings from the scene. Only one round struck Zymir, killing him as he slept. Police say several shooters fired multiple rounds into the two-story building while the baby slept inside, a detail reported by the Woodruff Times.
In the weeks after the shooting, Spartanburg Police Major Art Littlejohn publicly appealed for information, offering a $5,000 reward for tips leading to an arrest and conviction. Police at the time emphasized that even minor details could help identify the shooters who had fired from outside the building, the same outlet noted.
A Fourth Suspect Still at Large
Investigators are still searching for a fourth suspect in the case, and the Spartanburg Police Department is asking anyone with information to call 864-596-2065. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to Crime Stoppers of Spartanburg County at 1-888-CRIME-SC.
Christopher Mallory faces additional charges tied to other violent crimes in the area. He was previously charged in the November 2025 killing of 16-year-old Brodarrien Tate, who was shot in a parking lot at The Bryant apartments. According to a video report from FOX Carolina News on Facebook, Mallory was charged in connection with the case. Mallory is also charged with attempted murder in a separate case, according to FOX Carolina.
Statutory Penalties Suspects Could Face
The charges against Mallory and Wright carry significant statutory weight. Under South Carolina Code § 16-23-440(A), unlawfully discharging a firearm into an occupied dwelling is a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both, according to Justia Law.
The Seventh Judicial Circuit Solicitor's Office announced the arrests. The office is headed by Solicitor Barry Barnette, according to Spartanburg County Government.
Community Grief
After Zymir's death, his mother, Ebony Smith, started a GoFundMe campaign to help cover funeral and memorial costs, raising more than $11,000 from 273 donors. On the fundraiser, she said she had no life insurance for her infant son, according to the GoFundMe page.
Police have said the investigation into Zymir's death remains active as they continue searching for the fourth person believed to be involved.
