Travis Smith Obituary, Death – More than a decade has passed since the tragic shooting of 28-year-old Travis Smith, and while law enforcement may classify the case as cold, his family’s determination to find justice still burns as strong as ever. On September 29, 2012, Travis Smith was standing outside Ridgeview Manor Apartments in North Augusta, talking to his girlfriend when multiple men approached and shot him once in the torso.
In shock and fear, his girlfriend fled inside an apartment, with Smith following closely behind. He eventually collapsed on a couch, where he would later be pronounced dead. The Aiken County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Smith bled to death due to the gunshot wound. Tragically, he was unarmed.
The apartment’s owner, asleep with her children at the time of the shooting, called 911 as the shots rang out. South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) responded to the scene, and North Augusta Public Safety investigators canvassed the area. Lead investigator John Nelson and SLED worked diligently on the case for over a year. They interviewed witnesses, administered polygraphs, and spoke to informants who came forward, but despite their efforts, a suspect could not be identified.
Although the murder was not connected to gang activity, Sgt. Jason Fox, who took over the case after Nelson, noted that it can still be challenging to persuade people to cooperate, especially in apartment complexes where residents fear retaliation. Fox explained, “People are scared to talk to law enforcement, especially with law enforcement present because everybody will be outside watching to see who is talking to whom.”
Despite these challenges, investigators received cooperation from incarcerated individuals, leading to the identification of a potential suspect in December 2013. This suspect was interviewed multiple times while in the Aiken County Detention Center and eventually agreed to a polygraph as his release date approached.
While the case remains unsolved, Travis Smith’s family continues to seek closure and justice for their loved one, hopeful that one day, the truth will come to light.
