Newspapers and TV stations have been covering the tragic death of an Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG) engineer this weekend.

According to her LinkedIn page, Jacquelyn Smith graduated Cum Laude from historically black North Carolina A&T  State University in 1987, with a bachelor’s degree in electrical and electronics engineering.

Throughout her career, she was active in Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society ETA Kappa Nu,  the Electrical Engineering Honor Society, and the International Test & Evaluation Association.

A certified Project Management Professional, Jacquelyn had experience in engineering, acquisition, and contracting supporting the Armed forces and the Department of Defense contracting industry.

While employed at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), she managed a team of more than a hundred engineers, scientific professionals, and engineering technicians supporting the Warfighter Directorate at the Aberdeen Test Center.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Jacquelyn Smith was killed after giving money to a panhandler in Baltimore.

In an editorial on Tuesday, December 4, the Aberdeen Patch newspaper quoted Interim Police Commissioner Gary Tuggle, who had joined officers in canvassing the area near where the stabbing occurred. Tuggle reportedly described the slaying as a “heinous murder.”

“They’re using this ruse as panhandlers to get the attention of their would-be victims,” Tuggle said. “We also want to caution the public about engaging with panhandlers and recognizing that not all of them have honest intent. Not all of them have real need.”

WBAL-TV 11 reported that Smith’s husband, Keith, returned to the scene Monday.

“A girl was out here with what looked like a baby in her hand, and it was raining. My wife felt moved to give her some money,” Keith Smith told the media.

Smith said he reluctantly rolled down the window.

“And when (I) did, some guy came over to say, ‘Can I thank her?’ And as he did that — and I’m not thinking he’s going to do what he did — he commenced stabbing my wife,” Smith said.

Keith said the man stole his wife’s necklace and the woman took her purse before the two ran away.