A man has been acquitted in the 2021 shooting death of another man at an apartment complex in the Center Point area.

Rayshard Davaria Smith, 24, was charged with manslaughter in the May 11, 2021, killing of 24-year-old Jermaine James Kidd.

The indictment alleged Smith was charged with manslaughter “due to sudden heat of passion caused by a provocation recognized by law and before a reasonable time for the passion to cool and for reason to reassert itself.”

The shooting happened shortly after 3 p.m. that Tuesday at Summit Ridge apartments on Haversham Circle in the Center Point area.

Authorities said deputies had been called to the location earlier in the day – about 1:30 p.m. – on a report of a male who had gone there and threatened and assaulted a female resident.

When deputies arrived the first time, the man – Kidd – had fled the scene.

Deputies were still searching for him when a second call came in stating he was back at the apartment complex and had been shot by another male. Smith had fled the scene before deputies arrived back at the location but was later taken into custody in Birmingham.

Kidd was pronounced dead on the scene at 3:11 p.m.

Smith was booked into the Jefferson County Jail that day and released the following day after posting bond.

Testimony in Smith’s trial began Tuesday and went to the jury Wednesday for deliberations. The jury Wednesday afternoon found Smith not guilty.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Dain Stewart.

Smith was defended by attorney Emory Anthony, who successfully argued Smith shot Kidd in self-defense.

“My client took the stand and stated the only reason he fired was because he believed the alleged victim had a gun,’’ Anthony said. “He was defending himself.”