COLUMBUS, OH – A senseless act of violence has left an Ohio father of three dead, with a trio of teenagers now facing murder charges. The fatal beatdown took place on December 6 outside a Kroger Supermarket in Columbus. The victim, 53-year-old Donnie Smith, reportedly had an exchange with a group inside the store before the assault.
The same group then ambushed him as he exited the supermarket, resulting in a brutal attack that led to his death. The three accused individuals, Jamarion Fredrae Evans-Bennett, 19, Dionta Davon Hughes, 18, and 17-year-old Jayden Agee, have been brought up on murder charges related to Smith’s demise.
According to an affidavit reviewed by the Columbus Dispatch, the security footage of the incident shows the trio following Smith out of the Kroger store. The official police report states, “Three men engaged in an altercation with patrons inside the location. As a result, the suspects were asked to leave by security. Once outside, a physical altercation ensued between three males and the victim.”
The police claim the group repeatedly stomped, kicked, and punched Smith until he was unconscious, bleeding from the head. A bystander reported the assailants were seen “laughing and enjoying” the brutal attack, which only ended when another witness armed with a gun intervened.
Following the assault, Smith was discovered near the pharmacy’s drive-thru by an employee from the supermarket. Both Hughes and Evans-Bennett are now held at the Franklin County jail under a $1 million bond. The juvenile, Agee, remains in the county detention center as authorities decide whether to charge him as an adult.
Smith’s partner of 20 years, Nicole Evans, described him as an incredible father who adored his kids. In the wake of this tragedy, Smith’s loved ones have set up a GoFundMe campaign to assist his children moving forward.