Triple homicide suspect Davey Smith found, killed in Tennessee as victims identified
A man wanted in connection with a triple murder in Florida has died after being taken into custody Tuesday afternoon in Tennessee, officials said.
David Eugene Smith, 27, was taken to a hospital with a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a SWAT standoff at a Days Inn in Knoxville, Tenn. according to officials.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd detailed on Monday that Smith shot and killed three people, including his sister, in a Florida home. David’s sister, Danyala Smith, was identified as the teen’s mother who found the bodies; Ni’Kosi Williams, of Lakeland; and 28-year-old Miranda Mims, a friend of Danyala.
Knox County Sheriff’s Office said Smith had died just after 5:30 p.m. at the UT Medical Center. An autopsy for Smith is scheduled for Wednesday.
Judd said a 14-year-old teen returned from an ROTC weekend event Monday night and found her mother’s body in their Polk County home. Authorities were alerted and the other two bodies, a man and a woman, were found inside the home.
“It was a very violent scene,” said Judd, who added that the triple slaying could have occurred as early as Saturday night.