Reward Offered For Tips In WSU Football Player's Death
DETROIT (WWJ) - The parents of a Wayne State University football player who was killed near a Detroit nightclub are asking for the public's help.
Robbie and Beverly Smith are asking for information on the murder of their son, 20-year-old Courtney "Cortez" Smith, who police say was trying to break up an argument when he was shot, earlier this month.
"Cortez was a nice kid. He loved his friends and would do anything for them. For him to be gone in such a tragic way is a hardship on us," said Robbie Smith.
Beverly Smith said her heart is broke.
"This could have been your son. This could have been your brother. This could have been your grandson. Please come and call CrimeStoppers, so we can put an end to this horrendous violence that has taken the lives of my son and so many," she said.
Wayne State football coach Paul Winters said Cortez was the most helpful player on the team.
"If I needed something, I would call Cortez, and he would do whatever I asked of him... We loved him and we miss him," Winters said.
CrimeStoppers is offering a $3,500 reward until midnight, Monday, for information leading to an arrest. After that the reward drops to $2,500.
Smith was a junior at Wayne State and majored in criminal justice. He played cornerback for the football team and was the Warriors defensive rookie of the year in 2010. He was a 2008 graduate of Cass Tech, where he was also an all-city and all-metro football player.
If you have any information relating to the crime, you are asked to call the CrimeStoppers anonymous tip line at 1-800-SPEAK-UP.
