On July 27, 2013, at approximately 1:53 pm, Suspect Steven Lige Smith, B/M/ 02-12-80 and Complainant Dominique Paris were engaged in a drug transaction when the suspect shot and killed the complainant in an apartment located in the 1100 block of E. Ledbetter.   On May 22, 2014, an Affidavit for Arrest was issued for Suspect Smith. He is currently in jail and being charged with Murder, F/1.

On the date of the offense a witness discovered Complainant Paris deceased and lying in the living room of apartment #252. The witness called police. Officers found complainant with a gunshot wound to the chest. Responding detectives arrived and followed blood droppings that led them outside on a concrete upper landing, the lower landing, and eventually to a parking space in the apartment parking lot.

Detectives reviewed the apartment surveillance video and observed two unknown Black individuals enter into a vehicle and leave the apartment.   The vehicle was parked in the parking space where the blood droppings where located.

A DNA data base search was run and a preliminary match identified Suspect Smith.

Detectives learned that Suspect Smith was transported to Baylor Hospital for a gunshot wound on the same date of the offense. On February 1, 2014, Suspect Smith was arrested for outstanding warrants, unrelated to this offense. He was transported to police headquarters for questioning. Suspect Smith stated his injuries came from a robbery offense he reported. Suspect Smith stated his DNA was not found inside the offense location and terminated the interview. However, detectives were able to get a warrant for a buccal swab from Suspect Smith.

On February 4, 2014, Suspect Smith’s DNA was a match to the DNA sample collected at the scene of the murder. A supplemental test matched Suspect Smith’s blood to the bottom landing, upper landing, kitchen floor, and blood samples collected from the sidewalk.