Mother of 3 died after her boyfriend of two months, who previously threatened to kill her and her children, fatally shot her outside her home and then claimed he didn’t recognize her

Tennessee – In a harrowing case of domestic violence in Tennessee, a 23-year-old mother of three, identified as J. Smith, was gunned down by her boyfriend of just two months—identified as D. Mitchell, a 27-year-old man who had previously threatened to kill her and her children, according to family. Mitchell now faces a second-degree murder charge after claiming he mistook the victim for someone else.

The shooting occurred early in the morning on May 23 outside Mitchell’s second-floor apartment. According to the police department, officers responded to the scene and found Smith lying outside the front door with a single gunshot wound to her head. A spent shotgun shell was discovered inside the apartment, while Mitchell was nowhere to be found. Later that same day, Mitchell turned himself in and agreed to speak with investigators. During an interview, he waived his Miranda rights and offered a chilling account of the incident. According to the arrest affidavit, Mitchell said he awoke to voices outside his door, including what he described as a man and a woman speaking, and then heard knocking.

Fearing danger, he claimed he armed himself with a shotgun and opened the door. Allegedly, during an argument, he fired a shot at what he believed was a man, not realizing it was Smith. After shooting, he told police he discarded the weapon and fled, leaving his girlfriend deadly wounded on the doorstep. Smith’s brother discovered her body while heading to work and immediately alerted authorities. It was later revealed that he had previously heard Mitchell threaten to kill Smith and her three children, aged 1, 3, and 6.

Smith’s father told local outlets he was unaware his daughter had even been dating Mitchell, let alone that she was in danger. The couple had only recently begun dating two months prior, after Mitchell moved into the same apartment complex as Smith. This wasn’t Mitchell’s first brush with domestic violence. Court records show that he had prior domestic violence charges dating back to 2019 involving other women. He was also previously charged with violating bond conditions related to those past charges.

Smith’s father pointed out what he sees as a failure of the justice system to protect his daughter. The grieving father expressed heartbreak and anger, saying the man who took his daughter’s life had already broken a bond condition and should have been in jail. Through pain and disbelief, he said the system failed her—and if it hadn’t, his daughter would still be alive today.

Following Smith’s death, her three young children have been placed in the custody of their maternal grandfather. The tragedy has left her family devastated and seeking answers. Mitchell is currently being held at the county jail on a $760,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 9. Authorities continue to investigate the incident as Smith’s loved ones grieve the sudden loss of a young mother whose life was brutally cut short by someone she once trusted.