FULTON COUNTY, GA (WKZO AM/FM) – A Kalamazoo man wanted for a deadly drive-by shooting Mother’s Day 2023 has been arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, thanks to a coordinated effort between the U.S. Marshals Service, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office.
March 12, 2025, law enforcement officials executed a search warrant in Atlanta and arrested 23-year-old Dontaviour Lawrel Smith, who was wanted on a nine-count felony warrant in Kalamazoo County. Charges include open murder, assault with intent to murder, and multiple weapons violations. Smith is currently awaiting extradition to Michigan.
The charges stem from the May 14, 2023 shooting that killed 33-year-old Marcus Pierce and injured two others in the 500 block of Ada Street. The drive-by shooting occurred in broad daylight and targeted a home on Kalamazoo’s Northside, which was also struck by gunfire.
Two additional victims, a 58-year-old woman and a 22-year-old man, sustained non-fatal gunshot wounds during the incident.
Evidence seized through a search warrant at the home of Dontaviour Lawrel Smith (courtesy Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety)
Demario Deonte Jackson, a co-defendant in the case, previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and is currently serving an 18-to-50-year prison sentence.
“This arrest is the result of relentless teamwork and strong partnerships across state lines,” said KDPS Chief David Boysen. “Leaving the state doesn’t mean you’ve escaped justice. When someone commits a violent crime in our community, we do everything in our power to find them—no matter how far they run. We’re grateful to the U.S. Marshals and the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office for helping bring Mr. Smith into custody.”
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