Local

Father of slain Orlando DJ thinks jealousy caused stabbing

ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando police are trying to find out what sparked a deadly stabbing in which a local disc jockey was killed inside Tier nightclub early Monday morning.

Investigators said Gavin Brown, 35, and Jerry Smith, 29, were involved in an altercation inside the club on East Central Boulevard about 12:30 a.m.

During the altercation, Smith, a father of five, was stabbed in the abdomen and died a short time later at a hospital, authorities said.

Club security and extra duty police officers quickly detained Brown, who has been charged with first-degree murder.

WFTV learned Smith was a well-known DJ in the Orlando area who went by the name "Disco Jay R."

Tears ran down the face of Smith's sister, Lakeisha Smith, when she told Channel 9 what she would tell her older brother if he were still alive.

"I love him and I miss him, and I can't believe it happened," she said.

"It's sad and stuff like that there, but things happen," said the victim's father, Jerry Smith. "My son was taught not to fight nobody, just protect yourself, so it is just a lot of jealousy."

Jerry Smith believes the stabbing may have been caused by jealousy, because his son was so well-known and liked in the Orlando club scene.  On social media, Channel 9 saw several people posting their condolences for the DJ and his family.

"He enjoyed the music and he had a heart for it, you know what I mean," said Jerry Smith.