Suspicious: BLM Activist Deaths

4th January 2021

The killings occurred within weeks of each other (Getty Images).

The Claim

The killing of BLM activist Kris Smith, which came nearly 3 weeks after the killing of fellow BLM activist Travis Nagdy, is part of a serial assasination.

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Emerging story

The killing of Breonna Taylor, a young black medical worker who was shot and killed by Louisville police officers in March 2020, led to wide-scale demonstrations by BLM advocates for social justice and police reform.

Her case was considered by advocates an example of systematic racism, the flaws of the judiciary system, and the long history of police violence against black Americans; no one was charged for causing Taylor’s death. The case sparked demonstrations and marches to raise awareness to her case.

Travis Nagdy and Kris Smith became fixtures in Taylor’s demonstrations and were often referred to by their fellow activists as born leaders.

Nagdy was killed in a shooting near the University of Louisville campus. He was shot multiple times on Crittenden Drive before 12:30 on Monday, November 23, 2020, during a suspected carjacking. Police have released few details about the shooting.

Three weeks later on Friday, December 11, 2020, Kris Smith was killed on the 299 block of North 26 Street. He was fatally shot inside a vehicle according to Louisville Metro Police. According to reports, no suspects have been arrested for the deaths of Nagdy or Smith.

These events that took place with very little time in between them had led people to suspect that it could not be a coincidence, and that it might be a planned assasination directed towards the activists.

The fact that Smith streamed footage from Louisville protests and captured the killing of David McAtee, a restaurant owner who was shot by police in June, gave people more reasons to add to their suspicion.

Misbar’s Analysis

Misbar found that the claim is suspicious. It does seem to be a valid concern given the killings’ close proximity and both victims’ involvement in the BLM protests, but as of yet there is nothing to support the claim.

Police initially called Nagdy’s death a “suspected carjacking,” and said the two cases appear to be unrelated. In mid-December, Ashton Nally was charged by the FBI for his involvement in Nagdy’s murder. However, he was only charged with armed robbery of a vehicle.

Police say there is no evidence to indicate that Nagdy’s and Smith's deaths are related.

LMPD spokeswoman Alicia Smiley said both investigations are open but there is "nothing to indicate the two homicides are related and no motives at this point" when asked if the police department is investigating any connections between the shootings and if activists are being targeted.

Some believe that it is possible the police are covering up any connection between the murders, but there is no evidence showing this.