Roll of Honor
Incident
Deputy Sheriff Christopher Smith was shot from ambush when he responded to reports of a house fire at the end of Caracus Court. Deputy Smith was among the first to arrive on the scene at approximately 10:22 a.m. and was immediately shot and killed by the subject, who had approached him from behind.
The subject then took Deputy Smith's firearm and continued to fire at other responders, including members of the Tallahassee Fire Department and Tallahassee Police Department. One other sheriff's deputy was shot and wounded before the subject was shot and killed by an off-duty Tallahassee police officer who lived nearby and had responded to the sound of gunfire.
It is believed that the subject intentionally set the house fire with the intention to kill as many first responders as possible.
Deputy Smith had previously served as a dispatcher and corrections officer. He served with the Leon County Sheriff's Office for almost six years and had served in law enforcement for almost 26 years.
Survivors
Deputy Smith is survived by his wife and children.
In Our Keeping
- Permanent identifier
BO-US-FL-15964FF0- Stewardship
- Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
25 years. You could have gone home.
Deputy Sheriff Smith gave the Leon County Sheriff's Office 25 years. Still answering calls at the end.
Thank you for your service to the Tallahassee community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Deputy Sheriff Smith.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Deputy Sheriff Christopher Lynd Smith is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In FL, 539 of 1,008 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 53.5% of this state's fallen. That is 0.7 percentage points below the national rate of 54.2%.
At Leon County Sheriff's Office, 3 of 4 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 75% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Christopher Lynd Smith's cause is highlighted.
How Christopher Lynd Smith Compares
Offender Outcome
Shot and killed
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Christopher Lynd Smith is highlighted in Nov.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. Christopher Lynd Smith was killed by gun; unknown type.
Incident Location
Others Who Wore This Badge
3 officers from Leon County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
