Baltimore police spokesman's brother gunned down in weekend homicide

BALTIMORE - The brother of a spokesman for the Baltimore City Police Department was shot and killed over the weekend marking the city's 173rd homicide of the year.

Spokesman T.J. Smith said that his brother, 24-year-old Dionay Smith, was shot by a gunman who entered his Baltimore apartment Sunday night.

In a Facebook post, Smith said he contacted investigators after learning the name of a homicide victim matched that of his brother's. "I also did what is instinctual; I called his cell phone several times. Of course, there was no answer. However, I remained in denial," he said in his post.

Smith said that after he confirmed the victim was his brother, he notified his family. "My sister arrived, still completely oblivious, while I was shocked that social media didn't beat me to her. I simply said, 'someone killed our brother,'"his post continued.

Smith said his brother worked two jobs and spent time with his children. "Now this might sound like a cliche," Smith wrote, "but it is true- my brother was a good kid. He wasn't 'about that life'."

"To many, he will be #173, but to me and my family, he's Dion, a brother, a son, a father, a friend, a nephew, and a kind soul," Smith wrote.

At this time police have no motives or suspects in the case.

ONLINE: https://www.facebook.com/tjsmithmedia/posts/315569568870911