Joshua Smith, 18, known as “J-Murda,” was arrested in Knoxville, Tennessee, on an outstanding Wayne County warrant in connection with a deadly Richmond, Indiana, shooting. The September shooting killed Cecelia Hargrove and wounded two juveniles. Smith faces multiple felony charges in the case.
According to Fox 59, Smith was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service in Knoxville after multiple months on the run. An arrest warrant for Smith was originally issued in October following the September triple shooting that claimed Hargrove's life and left the two juveniles recovering in a hospital, the station reported.
Shots Fired Through a Door During an Attempted Robbery
Fox 59 reported that investigators allege Smith fired through a door during an attempted robbery, striking Hargrove and the two juveniles. One juvenile was shot in the cheek; the other was wounded near the rib cage and chest, according to the report. Court documents cited in the reporting say investigators believe one of the juveniles wanted to rob Smith. The circumstances of the confrontation remain part of the case.
A separate report from pal-item.com said Joshua Wade Smith, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was charged in Wayne Circuit Court with crimes including murder. The station's report lists three counts of attempted murder, a level 1 felony; two counts of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury, a level 2 felony; and one count of armed robbery, a level 3 felony, among the charges Smith faces.
Surveillance Video and a Burned Shoe Led Investigators to Smith
Fox 59 reported that surveillance footage with audio placed two people investigators believed to be Smith and another juvenile near the house. Shots are heard about two minutes into the recording; the two people were then seen running south through an alley, according to the report.
Investigators reportedly found a Nike Air Jordan shoe believed to be Smith’s in the doorway and a matching shoe at another Richmond residence, inside a fire ring. Fox 59 also reported that partially burned clothing in the ring was said to match what Smith wore during the shooting, and that court documents describe a firearm found in nearby woods.
No Court Date Set Yet
As of the latest reporting, online court records did not indicate when Smith is expected to appear in court. Fox 59 noted the gap in available records, leaving the next step in the Wayne County case unresolved for now.
Transfer status and victim support
A separate case offers an example of an interstate arrest, but not an update on Smith: the U.S. Marshals Service said Indiana murder fugitive Ronald Watson was arrested in Ripley, Tennessee, on November 21, 2024, and was awaiting extradition to Indiana. That case does not establish Smith’s current custody or whether he has been transferred.
For people injured in a violent crime, the Indiana Victim Services Division says those injured within the past two years may be eligible for compensation for medical bills, counseling costs and other expenses. Eligibility is not automatic, and the information does not establish whether anyone in this case qualifies.
