On Friday, February 9th, 1973 shortly after 11:00am, Laverte Clay Smith, Jr. parked in the parking lot behind his liquor store, Laverte’s Market, located at 1313 51st Ave. North. He had just returned from the bank with a large amount of cash for the weekend business. As he was walking from his car to his business, a black male came up and grabbed the paper sack of cash. Smith grabbed it back, but the sack tore and some of the money fell on the ground. At that point the man started shooting Smith and hit him multiple times. He then grabbed what was about half the money and ran to a red 4-door car that was waiting for him. The two men in the car left the parking lot at a high rate of speed turning west on Centennial Boulevard. Laverte Clay Smith, Jr. was 39 years old at the time of his death.
If you have any information regarding the murder of Laverte Clay Smith, Jr., please contact the Cold Case Homicide Unit at MNPDColdCase@nashville.gov
You can also call the Nashville Police Department’s Crime Stoppers Division anonymously at 615-742-7463
We feel it is important to put a face to the name. If you have a photograph you would like to submit to be posted (as an addition or substitution) please email: MNPDColdCase@nashville.gov
