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Police credit the assistance of two witnesses who recently spoke up for helping solve the years-old case.
Officials said that the arrest can also give hope to other families that any cold case can be solved with the public’s help.
Along a secluded east side street, 47-year-old Ail Smith Jr. was found shot to death in the trunk of a car in November 2021.
According to previous reports, the car was still running at the time while the passenger side of the car was on fire. Smith’s cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head, and the death was ruled a homicide.
According to a release by IMPD, detectives continued the investigation into Smith’s death, including multiple searches and warrants. IMPD said in an update on Tuesday that detectives recently tracked down two individuals, one of whom was an alleged witness to the crime, who “provided crucial information.”
Almost four years later, IMPD arrested Anthony Porter for Smith’s murder.
When Porter was arrested, IMPD said he was in federal custody for an unrelated incident. According to previous reports, Porter pleaded guilty to a carjacking in February 2024.
“Even after years have passed, our Unsolved Homicide Unit detectives remained committed to finding answers (for) the victim and his loved ones,” IMPD Chief Chris Bailey said. “Their efforts and determination led to an arrest in this case, reinforcing that IMPD will not stop seeking justice for victims, no matter how long it takes.”
“No matter how much time has passed, we’re not going to let these things rest,” said IMPD officer Drew Brown. “It just goes to show the hard work our unsolved homicide unit puts forward every single day.”
“It’s like they always say, if you see something, say something. If you know something, talk about it,” said Sierra Jones.
Jones doesn’t know the victim or his family, but exactly one week after Smith was murdered, her 18-year-old son was shot to death in Gardner Park also in November 2021.
“I had him at a young age, so we grew together. When I say he was my rock, he went through it all with me,” said Jones.
Jones said her oldest child, Javian Rhodes, told his girlfriend he was walking to the park to meet two friends when he was killed.
Although Jones believes she knows who shot her son, no one has ever been held accountable for that crime.
Jones said she wishes more witnesses would come forward to help bring justice to every cold case, including her son’s.
“Put yourself in the shoes of the family. How would you feel if it was you? You would want someone to talk and speak up,” said Jones.
“These investigations are complex and take time, but it can be one key witness that can come forward to help break a case,” said Brown.
IMPD encourages anyone with information on any unsolved homicide to contact either IMPD’s homicide office or Crime Stoppers at 317-262-TIPS.
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