Darius Smith, 25 of Knoxville, Tennessee, is in custody and charged with first degree murder after Knoxville Police Department officers responded to investigate a report of a missing person on the afternoon of Thursday, March 31, 2022.
On March 31 at around 3 p.m., KPD officers responded to 1012 Leon Drive to investigate the disappearance of 27-year-old Justin Goins. Investigators learned through witnesses that the victim’s car was originally found parked behind the Leon Drive address along with a maroon Chrysler minivan. The witnesses attempted to approach Smith, who quickly left the scene and fled from witnesses. When investigators arrived on scene, the victim’s car was gone. However, it was found a short time later abandoned on French Road. The victim’s car had been thoroughly cleaned with a chemical cleaner, but a small amount of blood was found in the cupholder of the victim’s vehicle.
On April 1 at around 3:15 p.m., officers responded to the area of Oldham Avenue and Elm Street after receiving an LPR hit that the Chrysler van was in the area. Officers located the van and attempted to stop it after the driver, who was identified as Darius Smith, committed a traffic infraction. The van fled north on Elm Street before crashing into a tree at the intersection of Elm and Virginia Avenue. Smith ran from the scene but was taken into custody by responding officers inside of a home in the 700 block of W. Emerald Avenue a short time later.
A search warrant was conducted on the van that Smith was driving, where the body of Justin Goins was found. Goins had been shot multiple times.
Smith was charged with first degree murder as well as additional charges for fleeing from officers, including felony evading arrest and reckless driving.
The investigation remains ongoing at this time.