The family of 26-year-old Demajhio Smith has identified him as the man found dead at a Holladay condominium complex Oct. 15.
Smith was found in a parking stall at the Chateau Foret complex, 4878 Highland Circle, after police responded to a second 911 call that evening, according to the Unified Police Department. Two juvenile males were later booked into juvenile detention. UPD said a weapon was recovered and there are no outstanding suspects.
Ronald Smith, Demajhio's father, told Fox 13 his son was gentle, soft-spoken and full of ideas, a young man who loved tinkering with inventions and sharing them.
"Very, very very soft-spoken, very soft-spoken. So soft sometimes you'd have to get your ears so close to him to hear what he had to say," Ronald Smith told Fox 13.
Deborah Smith, Demajhio's grandmother, said she learned of his death the morning of Oct. 16 and had to break the news to Ronald herself. She called it the most horrible thing she has ever had to do.
Ronald Smith said the family has received limited information from investigators and has not yet been able to view Demajhio's body. He said the investigation seems to have stalled.
According to initial UPD reports, officers first responded to a report of a single gunshot near Murray Holladay Road and Highland Drive at about 8:35 p.m. Oct. 15. Officers were unable to locate anything suspicious. A separate 911 call at 10:47 p.m. led police to a man down in one of the Chateau Foret parking stalls, as first reported by Fox 13.
UPD's Violent Crimes Unit and Forensic Units responded to investigate. The two juveniles were interviewed and booked into juvenile detention, police stated. Their ages have not been released.
A UPD spokesperson said the investigation remains active and the department will release more information as it becomes available.
Ronald Smith said he believes Demajhio would want to be remembered for his ideas and his love for his siblings and mother. Smith said he hopes to honor his son by bringing some of those inventions to life.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Tamara Kein, described as Demajhio's aunt, had raised $1,480 from 11 donations. The funds are intended to help cover funeral costs.



