Edward Daquan Smith

Edward Daquan Smith lived a life that combined service, family, and the hard work of a young man building a future. A native of Chicago who enlisted in the U.S. Army in May 2022, Private Smith was assigned to the 1st Armored Division at Fort Bliss where he worked as a repairer of small arms and towed artillery. During his service he earned the Army Service Ribbon and the National Defense Service Medal.

Those who knew Edward recall a husband and a father: he was married and left behind two young sons. Military records and news accounts identify him as a 23-year-old soldier whose life was centered on family and on the responsibilities he took on in uniform. His work at Fort Bliss reflected both technical skill and a commitment to supporting the unit and fellow soldiers through the maintenance role he performed.

Edward’s life mattered to the people around him — family members who planned memorial services, fellow soldiers who served alongside him, and neighbors and community members in El Paso who learned of his death. Public reporting and official police notices show that he was at a large gathering in Far East El Paso on the night of February 28, 2025, when he suffered a fatal gunshot wound. He died at the scene. Friends, family, and the military community were left to mourn a young life and a father whose plans for the future were cut short.

While some public notices and local reporting document the circumstances of his death and subsequent arrests connected to the shooting, the record also firmly shows Edward as more than a line in a report: a young soldier who responded to his country’s call, a husband, and a father. For memorial purposes, that human truth — his service, his relationships, and his role as a parent — is central. He is remembered by those who loved him and by the Fort Bliss community that knew him as a colleague in uniform. May his family find strength in the memories of his life and the care of those around them.