St. Petersburg Police have arrested 47-year-old Corey Deron Battle on a charge of second-degree murder in connection with the death of 44-year-old Jerome Smith.
Smith was shot on October 30, 2025, at his residence at 833 21st Avenue South and later died from his injuries on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Detectives say a neighbor contacted police at 8:47 p.m. on the night of the shooting after finding Smith bleeding inside the home. Officers arrived to find Smith suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to the hospital, where he died three days later.
Investigators determined that Battle and Smith knew each other and that a dispute at Smith’s home escalated into the shooting.
Battle was taken into custody and charged with second-degree murder on November 2.
Police report the case remains an active investigation.
