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Nasir Ali Smith

Age 14

Columbia, Missouri

No more games left to play

He was “smart [and] fearless.” He attended Hickman High School, but then switched to being homeschooled. He had a mother, father, and two brothers, whom he “loved with all his heart.” 

He was an “outstanding” player on the Columbia Raiders, a youth football team. He was very close with his brothers and loved gaming with them. They especially loved PlayStation. But he was found far from his sports and video games.

Nasir Ali Smith, 14, was shot dead and found behind a building on Nov. 6, 2018, at The Links, an apartment complex in Columbia, Missouri.

By Elena Eisenstadt · Age 16
Meet the Reporters

More than 300 athletes

Zyhame Kila Jones

An artist, basketball player and car-lover

Ray Glasgow III

Bench wears jersey instead of captain

Brandon Nathan Tyson

Friday night lights end in tragedy

Jovontia Antonio Jones

A runner grieved by seven siblings

Elisha Amon Cole

Dreaming big, working on his portfolio

Jeremiah Ascencio

Last moments spent cradling his brother

Orlando Myron Anderson Jr.

He was so full of life

Natwan Kian Holyfield

Supposed to go to homecoming, prom

Ta Quan Pinkney

Bright future; gone too soon

Ra’Quan Darius Jones

Didn’t get to see his GED

Taveon Donte' Brooks

Basketball point guard, would-be rapper

Avi Liam Franco

He loved to learn and explore

Vicente Valero III

He was a modern Renaissance man

Jayden Fondeur

His older brother found him first

Lorenzo Moore-Vaughn

About to start his senior year

Sharon Castro

She always helped those who struggled

Ricky Lamar Green Jr.

His children never saw him box

Jontae Billups-Brooks

An athlete and a music lover

Kendrick D. Davis

Not quite clear on his dreams

James Alexzander Shorter

He’ll never taste grandma’s cookies again