Joel Edward Smith III

How they died

Deadly force

Tempe Police officers watched across the Highline Canalas a Maricopa County Deputy and Smith, holding a knife, approached each other in Guadalupe, the neighboring jurisdiction. Smith told the deputy to shoot him. The deputy told Smith to drop the knife. According to the officers, the deputy shot Smith at a distance of 20 to 30 feet, and shot again as Smith continued to advance at the same pace. Smith later died.

Why we remember them

This record exists so that Joel Edward Smith III, and all who are named in this archive, are never reduced to a number.

References & sources