Denver Smith was a student in Southern University.

Students there were protesting on campus, against the inadequate services from their all-white Board of Education.

Nearly 1000 students were protesting that day.
The governor at the time, ordered over 200 police officials to secure the area and prevent the riots.

The officers were firing rounds of tear gas.

One cop, whose identity is unknown to this day,
“violated orders” by firing his shotgun,
hitting Denver Smith and Leonard Brown in the head.
Denver was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at a local hospital, while Leonard died on the scene.