Bio

Vernon Lamont Smith was born on April 7, 1972, in Toledo, Ohio. He experienced a troubled childhood. His biological father was largely absent during his early life, which left a gap in his upbringing. When his mother, Verna, married his stepfather, Smith's home life became more complicated. His stepfather reportedly had a history of physically abusing Verna, which Smith and his siblings witnessed. This environment likely influenced Smith's development and experiences growing up.

As a teenager, Smith faced challenges at school. He was suspended multiple times for fighting, indicating that he struggled to manage his anger and conflicts. Smith also became a young father, fathering a child when he was just fourteen years old. This early responsibility, combined with a limited support system, may have affected his outlook on life.

In his later years, Smith became involved in criminal activity. On May 26, 1993, he joined two friends to plan a robbery. This decision marked a pivotal moment in his life. Smith's actions during the robbery ultimately led to severe consequences, forever altering his fate.

Murder Story

On May 26, 1993, Vernon Lamont Smith and two accomplices, Herbert Bryson and Lamont Layson, planned to rob the Woodstock Market in Toledo, Ohio. Upon entering the store, they encountered the owner, Sohail Darwish. During the robbery, Smith pulled out a handgun and demanded that Darwish open the cash register. Darwish complied and raised his hands in surrender, showing that he did not intend to resist.

While Darwish was reaching for the cash, Smith shot him in the chest. After the shot was fired, Darwish fell to the ground and triggered an alarm. Smith and Bryson quickly left the scene. They did not take any beer, which they had initially intended to steal during the robbery. Layson witnessed Smith holding the gun after they fled.

Later, Smith admitted to his accomplices that he had shot Darwish because he thought he was moving too slowly. He expressed no remorse, saying Darwish should not have been in their neighborhood. The trio then split the stolen money from the robbery, which amounted to over $400.

Days later, police arrested Smith after witnesses identified him through photo arrays. He was charged with aggravated murder and aggravated robbery. During the trial, Bryson and Layson testified against Smith, detailing the events of the robbery and shooting. Smith was convicted and sentenced to death.

After spending years on death row, Smith was executed by lethal injection on January 7, 2010. At the time of his execution, he had converted to Islam and changed his name to Abdullah Sharif Kaazim Mahdi. His last words were a repeated Islamic creed. The execution was witnessed by Darwish's widow and their two daughters.