***UPDATE*** 7-16-15 – Lt. Erick Bohannon – Special Crimes Unit
Special Crimes investigators learned that the wanted suspect in the shooting death of Eric Ontario Smith at 714 N. Fillmore last November was arrested by the Bloomington, Minnesota Police Department on 7-13-15. Bloomington officers were looking for a wanted person at a hotel and encountered Tyrone Dawayne Black. When they learned Black had a murder warrant out of Potter County, he was arrested and booked into the Hennepin County Jail in Minneapolis, MN.
***UPDATE*** 11-25-14 – Sgt. Jason Riddlespurger – Special Crimes Unit
An autopsy was performed on homicide victim, Eric Ontario Smith Jr. The preliminary results indicate that Mr. Smith died from a gunshot wound to the back of the head.
Special Crimes Investigators spoke with several witnesses and identified a suspect in the murder. Witnesses referred to the suspect by his nickname, “K.R.” and has been further identified as Tyrone Dawayne Black, age 22. A Potter County Murder Warrant was signed for the arrest of Tyrone Black and he is currently at large. Amarillo Police Officers have checked several addresses and locations to try and locate the suspect throughout the night. Black has connections to numerous friends and associates in the Amarillo area. Further leads have indicated Black may have connections to Lubbock Texas and the state of California. Tyrone Black is from Eaden Prarie, Minnesota and has family still living in this area. Tyrone Black is to be considered armed and dangerous.
***ORIGINAL RELEASE***
On Sunday, November 23, 2014, at approximately 4:10am, Amarillo Police officers were dispatched to 714 N. Fillmore, the Paradise Club, reference shots fired and a possible victim down in the parking lot. Officers arrived and learned that a victim had been transported by private vehicle to a local hospital. The officers found several witnesses that reported seeing a suspect approach the victim in the parking lot and shoot him. The suspect then fled the scene. The officers responded to the hospital and found that a victim had been brought in with a gunshot wound to the head. Despite medical intervention, the victim died at the hospital. The suspect is unidentified at this time.
The homicide victim was identified as Eric Ontario Smith, BM, age 19. Justice of the Peace Thomas Jones has ordered an autopsy that is scheduled for Monday in Lubbock.
Special Crimes continues to investigate this homicide and asks anyone with any information about the case to call 378-9468 or Amarillo Crime Stoppers at 374-4400.
