Smith Found Guilty of First-Degree Murder in 2016 Killing

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Jihad Abdul Smith, of Jacksonville, was found guilty by a jury of First-Degree Murder and Tampering with Evidence. Smith now faces a maximum sentence of life in Florida State Prison. A sentencing hearing is scheduled to be set before the Honorable Mark Borello the week of June 3, 2019.

On Oct. 18, 2016, Smith killed Bryan Ramon Davis-Jones with a firearm Davis-Jones previously loaned him approximately a month before the murder. Smith entered Davis-Jones’ car and then shot him multiple times in the head before fleeing on foot. An extensive investigation by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office homicide detectives led to Davis-Jones’ cellphone being found in a sewer drain half a mile from Smith’s residence. Before throwing the phone in the sewer, Smith deleted the call log history that contained multiple calls between Smith and Davis-Jones, which occurred minutes before the murder. Smith later made arrangements to trade the firearm used in the murder.

The case was investigated by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and is being prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Joe Licandro, Christina Stifler, and Trey Atkinson.