A New Jersey man has been sentenced to 65 years in state prison for the 2021 murder of his stepfather following a heated family dispute that prosecutors said began over offensive comments regarding the sexuality of a family member and her friend.
According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor’s Office, 28-year-old Christian Smith was convicted of first-degree murder and weapons offenses in the shooting death of his stepfather, Dennis McKenzie Jr. The fatal incident occurred on October 9, 2021, inside the family’s Woolwich Township home.
Prosecutors said the confrontation began when Smith objected to his younger sister bringing an LGBTQ friend into the home. During the argument, Smith allegedly made derogatory remarks and used an anti-LGBTQ slur. Family members, including Smith’s mother and sister, attempted to calm the situation as tensions escalated.
Authorities said McKenzie attempted to strike Smith during the dispute. Prosecutors stated that Smith then pulled a 9mm handgun from his waistband, reached over his mother, and fired multiple shots. McKenzie was struck once in the face and three times in the back. He died from his injuries.
Investigators later discovered that Smith dismantled the firearm after the shooting. Prosecutors also presented evidence that he recorded himself on video after the killing, allegedly stating, “That’s what he gets.”
During the trial, prosecutors argued that the deadly confrontation stemmed from Smith’s hostility toward the LGBTQ guest and the comments he made during the argument. Defense attorneys challenged portions of the prosecution’s case, but a jury ultimately found Smith guilty of first-degree murder.
On May 29, 2026, a judge sentenced Smith to 65 years in prison. Under New Jersey law, he must serve a substantial portion of that sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Prosecutors described the killing as a tragic act of violence that escalated from a family disagreement into a fatal shooting.
The case has drawn renewed attention because of its connection to anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and family conflict. Advocates and legal observers have pointed to the incident as an example of how heated disputes fueled by intolerance can rapidly turn deadly.
