On Monday morning, March 3, 2025, North Texas rapper Ronnie Smith, also recognized by his stage name G$ Lil Ronnie, and his five-year-old daughter were tragically shot and killed at a car wash in Forest Hill, Texas. The authorities have subsequently issued a capital murder warrant for a suspect and are still searching for the alleged shooters.
The Forest Hill police provided descriptions of two males in gray sweaters and blue jeans. They reportedly exited a white four-door Kia around 10:45 a.m., approached Smith’s parked vehicle at Slappy’s Express Car Wash, and initiated gunfire before escaping the scene. The victims were declared dead on-site.
The victims were identified by family members as Chuckie Smith (G$ Lil Ronnie) and his daughter R’Mani, who had just turned five the day prior to the shooting.
“He was a rapper. He didn’t bother nobody. He was a family man, and he was going around rapping, okay. Why would you target him?” Smith’s aunt Stella Houston questioned during an interview with FOX 4 reporters.
Investigators from the Forest Hill police department have identified one suspect and acquired a capital murder warrant. However, the suspect’s name has been withheld. The second suspect’s identity remains unknown. The investigation is being led by the Texas Rangers, with the support of several local law enforcement agencies.
A spokesperson for Slappy’s Car Wash expressed their shock and distress over the violent incident, stating, “We are shocked, appalled and deeply troubled by the senseless and violent events that occurred today. Right now, there are more questions than answers.”
Chief David Hernandez did not answer inquiries regarding surveillance footage of the shooting or any recovered cartridge casings. Meanwhile, evidence markers were scattered across the crime scene as investigators sifted for evidence.
Smith, 30, had a notable following with about 40,000 monthly Spotify listeners, according to reports.
The car wash saw a gathering of family, friends, and multiple law enforcement agencies, including Forest Hill police officers, Fort Worth police and firefighters, and the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office, later on Monday.
This shooting is the third fatal incident in Forest Hill, a community of approximately 14,000 residents, in less than two weeks. This wave of violence has sparked concerns among locals. On February 21, a former employee fatally shot two men at RK Auto Sales, a local car dealership. The next day, a 36-year-old woman was hit and killed by a stray bullet in her backyard. There have been no arrests in this case to date.
Local reports indicate a significant surge in violence for Forest Hill as these incidents are the fourth and fifth homicides in the city in 2025, a stark contrast to the previous year when the city did not record any murders.
MedStar ambulance service confirmed that two people were declared dead following several 911 calls reporting gunshots at the car wash, located at 6500 Forest Hill Drive. The business will remain closed for a minimum of two days to facilitate the investigation.
The spokesperson for Slappy’s Car Wash added that the company’s employees are praying for the victims and their families during this difficult time. Concerns about the recent rise in gun violence in the area have been voiced by local residents.
Authorities are encouraging anyone with information about the murders or the suspects’ location to get in touch with the Forest Hill Police Department at 817-531-5250 or policeinvestigations@foresthilltx.org.
