Donald Dubose was held Thursday on suspicion of second-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of Michael Oshea Smith. Prosecutors believe Dubose, 24, participated in a drive-by shooting that ended Smith’s life in May 2012. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for August 23.
Smith, 34, was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in the passenger seat of vehicle that had crashed into the side of a home on Stevens Road Southeast. The driver of the vehicle suffered a gunshot wound to the arm and survived.
Charging documents in the case say investigators discovered two bullet holes in the vehicle, and recovered five 9mm cartridge casings from the crime scene. A review of the firearms evidence determined that two guns were used, suggesting there were two shooters.
The driver of the vehicle told police that he and Smith were driving to Smith’s home in the Barry Farm neighborhood. They had just exited the 3rd Street tunnel when they noticed a car following them. The driver said that when they reached Stevens Road SE he pulled over to allow the vehicle to pass, but the car pulled up next to them and someone in the vehicle began shooting at them. The driver said he attempted to speed off but crashed into a home in the 1100 block of Stevens Road SE. He told police there were four people in the other car.
During the course of the investigation, detectives reviewed video footage from several street cameras and noticed a black Ford Fusion following Smith and his friend along their route. The video shows that around 5:33 a.m. the Fusion was directly behind Smith and his friend as their car crashed.
Detectives then interviewed the owner of the Ford Fusion and learned that Dubose had borrowed the car on the evening of May 11, 2012, and had returned it the following morning- the day Smith was found dead.
Another witness later told police that Dubose told her he was driving the Fusion when two of his friends began shooting at another vehicle.
Charging documents are below.
