Additional details have come to light regarding a murder that occurred in southern Logan County on Thanksgiving Day last week, apparently from an argument over a bicycle.
In a joint press interview with Logan County Undersheriff Troy Dykes this morning, the News Leader learned that the decedent, Michael Smith, was a formerly homeless person who had been permitted by the homeowner to live in a tent on the property where his body was found. The homeowner returned that afternoon from a Thanksgiving celebration and found Smith’s body in the yard. The homeowner then made the initial call to LCSO for assistance.
Dykes further stated that because of the weather and his living condition, he was found wearing multiple coats and layers of clothing. Responding deputies initially reported there were no signs of trauma or foul play because they saw no indications due to this factor. “There were a few points of concern,” he explained. “However, all those details were resolved, which showed no indication of foul play.”
In spite of deputies’ efforts that evening, knocking on doors and looking for people in the area, they were unable to locate witnesses that night to provide details indicating the depth of what would later be uncovered.
Given the holiday weekend as well as the lack of suspicion of foul play in regard to Smith’s death, the Medical Examiner’s office did not conduct the autopsy until Monday. However, once the Medical Examiner removed the clothing from the body, “they located a single gunshot entry wound, with no exit wound. That changes the scope of the investigation.” Dykes said. They immediately contacted LCSO to provide that update.
On receiving that information, LCSO immediately initiated the investigation. “We’re investigating this as a homicide now,” Dykes explained. “We hit the ground running; deputies have been working around the clock chasing leads. We’ve executed…over six warrants and collected a lot of evidence and a lot of witness statements.” Dykes indicated LCSO had “identified that three individuals were involved, two males and one female.” As a result, LCSO has arrested one male, Aldon Harmon III, for first-degree murder.
The entire sad situation emerged from a dispute over a bicycle. “There had been an argument about getting a bike back,” Dykes said. “Once the individual was injured with a firearm, witnesses saw two other individuals leave the scene with a bike.”
“Every individual has things of importance that are different than other people,” Dykes continued. “One thing we know is that nobody deserves to die over anything such as a bicycle, and it’s really sad that it came to this outcome.”
The Logan County Sheriff’s Office originally released a statement yesterday, Dec. 4, regarding the incident.
Sheriff Damon Devereaux said in the statement that deputies responded to a call regarding an unattended death in the 3400 block of East Country Oaks Road at approximately 4:53pm on November 28, 2024. The deceased individual was identified as Michael Smith. At the time of discovery, no foul play was suspected, and Smith’s body was taken by the Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
During the subsequent autopsy the Medical Examiner determined that the cause of death was a gunshot wound, at which point LCSO launched an additional investigation. “During the investigation, witnesses indicated three subjects came to [the address] and had a confrontation with Michael Smith. During the confrontation, witnesses heard a gunshot and saw two vehicles leaving the area,” the statement said.
Dykes indicated that the investigation was ongoing, with a possibility of additional related charges. “It’s relatively early to say whether or not they will be criminally charged,” he said. “However, they are suspects of being involved in this crime, and we are following those leads to determine the appropriate action.”
Those charges could be quite severe for the other two individuals involved, as Dykes indicated felony murder charges were possible: “If you look up [the] statute,” he said, “in the commission of any felony, if someone dies, you can be charged with felony murder. So, you can imagine the direction of the other two, potential charges would be something of that nature.”
There’s also still hope of finding the murder weapon, which Dykes indicated had not yet been recovered.
However, Dykes indicated LCSO feels the most critical part of the affair was handled: “All the evidence indicates that the shooter is in custody,” Dykes stated. “We’re confident we’ve got the person who pulled the trigger.”
LCSO hopes to finish the probable-cause affidavit today, so that formal charges may be filed against Harmon. In the meantime, Harmon is currently incarcerated at Logan County Jail while the case proceeds.