$50,000 reward for unsolved San Diego killing announced by Newsom
Oct 23, 2026
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction for the 2008 murder of a 20-year-old man in San Diego’s Emerald Hills neighborhood.
The reward was one of six $50,000 rewards announced by Newsom for information in unsolved murders in San Di
ego, Los Angeles, San Mateo, Sacramento, Fresno and Ventura counties.
The San Diego victim was identified as Darnell Smith, who was fatally shot after he and his cousins parked their car on Pyramid Street and began walking toward his aunt’s home, according to the Governor’s Office. An assailant got out of a black SUV and fired multiple shots at Smith, killing him.
Smith was a student at Mesa College and worked for Cox Cable.
“Every family deserves answers when a loved one is taken by violence,” Newsom said.
San Diego Crime Stoppers has offered an additional $1,000 reward, and Cox Communications has offered an additional $2,500.
Anyone with information about the killing was asked to contact the San Diego Police Department’s Homicide Unit at 619-531-2293. Anonymous tips can be submitted to the Crime Stoppers site.
Under state law, law enforcement agencies may ask the governor to offer rewards in specified unsolved cases after investigators have exhausted all leads.
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