Reward Increased To $53,500 In Unsolved San Diego Killing

SAN DIEGO, CA — A reward of $53,500 is being offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the unsolved killing of a man more than 18 years ago in San Diego, authorities announced Tuesday.

Darnell Smith, 20, was fatally shot June 15, 2008, while walking with relatives to his aunt's home in the Emerald Hills neighborhood, according to San Diego County Crime Stoppers.

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Smith had parked his car around 12:20 a.m. in the 700 block of Pyramid Street when a gunman got out of a vehicle, approached the group from behind and fired several shots, authorities said.

Smith was struck and died at the scene.

Witnesses described the suspect's vehicle as a newer black Ford Escape or a similar vehicle with tinted windows.

At the time of his death, Smith worked for Cox Communications and attended San Diego Mesa College, where he was pursuing a degree in business administration.

The California Governor's Office is now offering $50,000 for information leading to an arrest and conviction. Cox Communications is offering an additional $2,500, and Crime Stoppers is offering $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.

Anyone with information is asked to call the San Diego Police Department's Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers' anonymous tip line at 888-580-8477. Tips can also be submitted at sdcrimestoppers.org.