Dayton police say Christopher L. Smith, 28, is the shooter on Dec. 5 at Rick’s Jazz Lab and the nearby Save Food Supermarket. He was arrested Sunday in Stockbridge, Georgia, by the FBI Atlanta Violent Crimes Task Force.
Police said Smith at 3 a.m. opened fire and critically injured one man and killed 33-year-old Brandon Harris.
“It’s been hard. We’re trying to get through these days without him. It’s hard, it really is,” Harris’ sister Nishelle Harris said.
She lost her younger brother six weeks ago.
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The pain is not going away, and even the arrest of his alleged shooter in Atlanta leaves her with mixed emotions.
“I was happy, I was sad. It’s still not going to bring my brother back but it feels a little better. We’re going to get justice for him,” she said.
Police were flagged down for help by workers at Rick's Jazz Lab that December morning.
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Officers discovered Brandon Harris fatally shot, apparently as he stepped out of the club’s doors. Another man suffered critical injuries.
Seven hours later, more 911 calls reporting gunshots brought police to a business just a football field from Rick’s Jazz Lab.
Police discovered Clarence Brown, 33, with fatal gunshot wounds.
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Investigators eventually announced they believed Smith committed both crimes.
Harris’ family told News Center 7 the same person was responsible only 24 hours after the shootings.
“We got calls and stuff that day. That’s how we found out,” Nishelle Harris said.
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Her brother left behind six daughters, ranging in age from 5 to 17.
“To look at his kids, to see the hurt in their eyes, that they don’t have their father anymore and to see the hurt in my mother’s eyes. That was her only son,” she said.
Harris said her family will be dealing with the fallout of what happened for years to come. She said family members also are preparing for the pain of the court case, which they expect will last several months or even a couple years.
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