Three teenagers have been arrested in connection with the death of 53-year-old Donnie Smith, who succumbed to injuries sustained during an altercation at a Kroger grocery store in Columbus, Ohio, on December 6, 2023. Dionta Davon Hughes, 18, Jamarion Fredrae Evans-Bennett, 19, and Jayden Agee, 17, are the named suspects in the incident.

Witnesses reported a dispute between Smith and the teenagers inside the store. After intervention by security staff, the altercation moved outside. Smith was discovered near the pharmacy drive-thru, critically injured and unresponsive, with head wounds, after he was beaten, stomped, and kicked. His attackers only stopped when a passerby with a gun intervened. Smith was transported to a hospital but passed away on December 20, 2023.

The assault’s intensity was noted by reports of the teenagers’ apparent lack of concern, as they were seen laughing during the incident, a fact supported by several witnesses.

A companion of Smith mentioned that the suspects appeared to be provoking confrontations with others in the store.

Columbus Police Department responded by identifying and arresting the three suspects. Hughes and Evans-Bennett, as adults, had their photos released and are currently held on a bond of $1 million each. Agee is detained while a decision is made on whether he will be tried as an adult. The case remains under investigation, and authorities have requested further information from the public.

Smith has a 15-year-old son and a 6-year-old daughter with Nicole Evans, his partner of two decades, who recalled him as a devoted father and individual. His passing has left a significant impact on his family and community.

This incident has prompted concerns about public safety and violence in communal spaces. Columbus Police are actively assembling evidence and witness accounts to clarify the events leading to Smith’s death.

The Kroger Company, where the incident took place, has yet to make a public statement. The store’s actions during and after the altercation may become pertinent as the investigation unfolds.

The case also brings to light issues surrounding youth violence and its management in both the community and the justice system. The forthcoming decision on the juvenile suspect’s trial status as an adult will likely influence the course of the legal proceedings.