SILENT WITNESS

Police searching for leads in Phoenix man’s 2016 shooting death

Jul 29, 2024, 6:54 AM | Updated: 8:59 am

silent witness shooting...

Robert Smith Jr. was killed in Phoenix in April 2016. (Silent Witness Photo)

(Silent Witness Photo)

This article originally appeared Aug. 8, 2016..

Saturday, April 16, 2016, at 2:30 a.m., Phoenix police responded to a call of shots fired in a neighborhood near 31st Avenue and Baseline Road.

“When they got there, they found our victim laying in the middle of the street with what appeared to be several gunshot wounds,” Phoenix Police Sgt. Jamie Rothschild said.

The victim, Robert Smith Jr., was 46. He was a veteran who had several siblings and a daughter.

Rothschild said investigators don’t believe Smith was necessarily shot in the street where they found him.

“At the time that this happened, we’re thinking that he was sitting in his car listening to music,” he said.

Witnesses said that several minutes after hearing the gunfire, they heard a vehicle drive south on 31st Drive then east on Fremont Road.

Smith’s family said it wasn’t unusual for him to be up in the middle of the night. Unfortunately, there weren’t a lot of other people awake at that hour so finding witnesses and leads has been challenging.

But Rothschild is hoping people who live or work nearby still might be able to help solve this case by checking their surveillance video from that date if they have cameras outside.

Read more about this case here.

Silent Witness

Phoenix police are searching for six men who allegedly robbed the El Capri Nightclub near 21st and ...

Jayme West

Police searching for suspects in 2016 Phoenix nightclub robbery

Phoenix police are searching for six men who allegedly robbed the El Capri Nightclub near 21st and Van Buren streets in 2016.

1 month ago

Overdosed woman...

Jayme West

Police looking for clues after overdosed woman dumped in Phoenix lot in 2016

Phoenix police are looking for clues in the case of a young woman who was overdosing and dumped in an empty lot next to a convenience store in 2016.

2 months ago

Unsolved Phoenix murder...

Jayme West

Police looking for clues unsolved 2006 murder of Phoenix man

It's possible one of the suspects in an unsolved Phoenix murder from 2006 goes by Xavier, and the other may be known as "Maniac."

3 months ago

Police...

Jayme West

Police searching for clues in Phoenix woman’s brutal 2010 murder

Police are hoping someone has information on the brutal January 2010 murder of a Phoenix woman. Her body was found in a church parking lot.

3 months ago

Tattoos silent witness...

Jayme West

Tattoos could be key to 2016 Phoenix murder; child molestation case from that year also unsolved

Tattoos could be the key to solving a Phoenix murder case from 2016. Police are also trying to find a child molester from that year.

4 months ago

Follow @NEWS923...

Sponsored Content by Bright Wealth Management

How updating your estate plan is crucial in saving money

As you map out your estate plan, mapping out beneficiaries and keeping it up to date is key in order for the most funds possible to be passed down with ease.

Sponsored Articles

...

Bright Wealth Management

How IRAs are a helpful tool in retirement planning

When it comes to retirement planning, individual retirement accounts (IRAs) can be a great tool for income growth.

...

The UPS Store

How The UPS Store is giving back to the community

PHOENIX -- As 2024 nears a close, The UPS Store is looking to give back to the Arizona community with the holiday season approaching.

...

Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Why a Heating Tune-Up is Essential Before Winter

PHOENIX, AZ — With cooler weather on the horizon, making sure your heating system is prepped and ready can make all the difference in staying comfortable this winter.

Police searching for leads in Phoenix man’s 2016 shooting death