According to Aberdeen Capt. Jim Foster, officers arrested Cedrick DeShaun Graham at about 1:15 a.m. Saturday and charged him with the shooting death of Lanilshi Ann Smith.
Smith, 21, was shot once sometime between 9:30 p.m. Thursday and 7:30 a.m. Friday, Foster said. She was at Graham’s home at 233 Moore St.
“They were acquaintances,” Foster said.
Graham called 911 and reported the shooting.
“The defendant made the original 911 call,” Foster said.
He wouldn’t reveal any other details about the case, such as a possible motive or whether officers had seized a weapon.
“It’s still under investigation,” Foster said.
Aberdeen cooperated with the State Bureau of Investigation on the case.
David Campbell, a friend of the family reached by phone at the Smiths’ home on Richards Street, said Tuesday that Lanilshi Smith would be well remembered.
He said that Brenda Smith, Lanilshi’s mother, had been instructed by the Aberdeen police not to speak about details of the case. She also refused other comment.
“Around this community, all the kids loved her (Lanilshi Smith),” Campbell said. “Anyone who had children loved her. She would baby-sit for nothing. There were always two or three kids in the house.”
He also said: “She had love for everybody. If you are going to print anything, print this: Even if she didn’t know you, she would never walk away from you without telling you she loved you.”
About the defendant, Campbell said only, “We thought he was our friend.”
