U.S. Marshals Capture Memphis Man in East Tennessee Wanted for Shooting Death of Toddler

Memphis, TN – After an investigation by U.S. Marshals in West and East Tennessee, a man is in custody for the June shooting death of a 3-year-old child.

Christopher Smith, 33, of Memphis, was wanted by the Memphis Police Department for First Degree Murder, Criminal Attempt First Degree Murder, and related firearms offenses.

Around 11 p.m., June 20, 2023, Memphis police officers responded to a shooting call on the 3400 block of West Winchester Place at a Whitehaven apartment complex. Christopher Smith was allegedly involved in an argument and fired a gun into a crowd of people outside the apartment. A 3-year-old victim was struck and transported to a hospital by private vehicle. The child did not survive.

The next day, Memphis police obtained an arrest warrant out of Shelby County Criminal Court. The U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force adopted the case. Working in conjunction with the Memphis Fugitive Apprehension Team, U.S. Marshals developed information that Smith was in East Tennessee.

This morning, members of the U.S. Marshals Smokey Mountain Regional Fugitive Task Force and Coffee County Sheriff’s Office were about to execute an arrest warrant at a residence in Tullahoma, Tennessee, when investigators spotted Smith walking along the road. Investigators surrounded Smith and placed him under arrest without incident. He was transported to the Coffee County Jail.

The U.S. Marshals Two Rivers Violent Fugitive Task Force (TRVFTF) is a multi-agency task force within Western Tennessee. The TRVFTF has offices in Memphis and Jackson, and its membership is primarily composed of Deputy U.S. Marshals, Shelby County Sheriff’s Deputies, Memphis Police Officers, Fayette County Sheriff’s Deputies, Jackson Police Officers, and the Tennessee Department of Correction Special Agents. The primary mission of the Task Force is to arrest violent offenders and sexual predators.