ORLANDO, Fla. — The Orlando Police Department is asking for the public’s help with locating Jerome Smith III in connection to the shooting of Dexter Rentz Jr. of Ocoee.
Read: ‘Gang feuds’ tied to murders in Orange and Osceola counties, deputies say
Rentz, 18, died in the shooting on the evening of April 25, 2020, along Elese Street and Deerock Drive, near Raleigh Street and South Ivey Lane.
Three other people were injured in the shooting that happened blocks away from the Universal Orlando Foundation’s branch of the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida and the Florida Department of Health’s Orange County offices.
In March 2024, the Orlando Police Department announced they had arrested another suspect in connection with Rentz’s death.
Christopher Burke was picked up and charged with second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder, according to officers.
Read: Orlando police arrest suspect in murder of Ocoee H.S. football star
Rentz had committed to play for the University of Louisville.
His story had such an impact on the community that Shaquille O’Neal offered and paid for the funeral costs for Rentz and his family.
Orlando police ask anyone with information about this incident and Smith’s whereabouts to call Central Florida Crimeline at 800-423-TIPS (8477) or post their tip anonymously at https://crimeline.org.
See a map of the shooting scene below:
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