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Dariene Smith was shot in the back after a confrontation between two men outside of a club turned violent.
According to a report from MMA Fighting’s Damon Martin UFC lightweight Devonte Smith’s sister Dariene Smith was shot and killed outside of a nightclub in Columbus, Ohio over the weekend. Smith was just 23-years-old.
Reports obtained from Columbus Police stated that officers responded to a shooting on July 11 at 2:24 a.m. When officers reached the scene of the shooting there were no victims present. However, officers were notified that two individuals with gunshot wounds had transported themselves to a nearby hospital.
One of those individuals was Smith. She was pronounced dead at 9:28 a.m.
A second victim of the shooting reportedly told police that he and Smith were outside of a nightclub when a fight broke out between two men. During that fight one of the men produced a handgun and started shooting.
This victim said that he and Smith were running away when they were both struck by bullets, with Smith being shot in the back.
No arrests have been made in connection with this shooting.
Devonte Smith, who has been with the UFC since a successful appearance on Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series in August, 2018, took to Instagram to pay tribute to his younger sister.
Alongside a family portrait, Smith wrote:
“Everyday I will have to wake up and accept that your gone,” Smith wrote. “So many emotions and thoughts right now that I can’t tell what’s normal or illogical thinking. Idk what to think or how to feel.
“My little sister man, shot and killed…mine. so much rage and anger but idk where to place it. Seeing you lay there hoping you wake up but you never did really did something to my heart and soul. I Cried so much I got a headache and kept crying. You will forever be my little sister. I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU. One of the worst days of my life. Ima miss you so much, words can’t truly describe how I’m feeling in my heart.”
Devonte Smith’s manager, Ed Kapp, has organized a gofundme page to cover funeral costs and to provide financial assistance to the Smith family, which includes Dariene Smith’s two children, aged two and six.
At this time of writing that campaign had raised $3,325 towards a $20,000 goal.