TEMPLE HILLS, Md. — Tributes were rolling in Friday for a D.C. father of five killed at his job as the head of security at a skating rink in Prince George's County.
Eugene Smith, 31, was shot and killed at the DMV All Skate Social skating rink in Temple Hills late Thursday night, sparking a homicide investigation, according to the Prince George's County Police Department (PGPD).
Officers with the police department responded to the skating rink on Branch Avenue, in Temple Hills around 11:00 p.m. after receiving a report of a shooting. Upon arrival at the scene, they located Smith inside the skating rink suffering from a gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Smith had come to the rink to check on the security guards he had deployed there, according to Maj. Zachary O'Lare, Operations Commander of the Bureau of Investigations. O'Lare said when Smith stepped outside, the driver of a silver sedan opened fire, hitting him repeatedly.
O'Lare said there was no sign that Smith or any of the guards had kicked anyone out of the rink earlier, or had any interactions that would have led to his death. O'Lare said detectives have been working non-stop, reviewing witness interviews and security camera footage, looking for any images of that silver sedan.
He said they are hoping to close the case shortly, in hopes of providing some measure of solace to Smith's family.
A close friend of Smith's, and an owner of his own security company, who would only give his name as Harrington, came out to the rink Friday, seemingly somehow blaming himself for not being at the rink Thursday night.
"If I was here when everything happened, maybe it would have de-escalated," Harrington said. "That was my friend, that was my brother, classmate, teammate, everything. He's a big part of my life. I looked up to him."
The owner of the skating rink, Jacqueline Wiggins, told WUSA9 Smith was the head of security for the business. The rink will be closed over the weekend until a new security company can be hired, Wiggins said.
PGPD investigators are working to identify a suspect and determine a motive in the deadly shooting.
Detectives are offering a reward up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest and indictment in Smith's death.
If anyone has information relevant to this investigation, they are asked to please call detectives at 301-516-2512.
Callers wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477), or go online at www.pgcrimesolvers.com, or use the “P3 Tips” mobile app (search “P3 Tips” in the Apple Store or Google Play to download the app onto your mobile device.)