Missouri man shares survival story in new book ‘My Fatal First Date’

‘My Fatal First Date’ is Chris Smith’s story of resiliency and strength. Smith was paralyzed after being shot in November 2021.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ill. — Chris Smith was shot in the head while on a first date in 2021. Now, more than three years later, he’s sharing his story of strength and touching thousands through his new book, ‘My Fatal First Date.’

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“I’ve got a second lease of life and I’m here to help people around the world,” he said. 

It’s an opportunity Smith wasn’t sure he’d ever get. 

“The last thing I remember from that afternoon is driving past my neighbor’s house and looking at my truck’s dashboard saying 4:45 p.m. The inner voice that we all have saying, ‘Don’t go out, stay home, don’t go out, stay home,’ just screaming at me. [That was the] first time I never listened to my gut feeling,” he said. 

That was right before Thanksgiving in 2021, when Smith went on a first date with Leslie Reeves. Reeves’ ex-boyfriend, Robert Tarr, tracked the two down at Smith’s home in Illinois. Tarr shot them both, killing Reeves and altering Smith’s life forever.

“Then I [wake] up, it was January 12, 2022. I was [told I was] shot in the head, completely paralyzed on my left-hand side. I could not feel anything. My leg felt like it was just like a ton of concrete, same with my arm,” he said. 

Despite being in a coma for three months, surviving multiple strokes and brain surgery, Smith made a miraculous recovery. He said it’s all thanks to modern medicine and research of his own.

“I’m here to help stroke survivors, TBI survivors, and survivors of domestic violence and help people around the world. That’s why I’m still here, and thanks to God, that’s why I’m here,” he said. 

Smith said he’s hoping to inspire others through his story of survival in his book, ‘My Fatal First Date.’

“Everybody told me you got to write your story, you got to write your story, you have to write your story. I really pondered it because I’m not an author, I’m a singer-songwriter,” he said. 

Three years after the tragedy, Smith is back on stage doing what he loves, while he uses those same talents to touch people through his words on a page.

“I am proof that we can recover, we can overcome, we can succeed,” he said. “And we can achieve anything that we want, if we put our minds to it and work our tails off. I mean, you’ve got to realize that we’re all unstoppable, every one of us are.”

Smith added his struggles with his recovery, and he hopes legislation can change for many survivors, like himself.

“I’m on state Medicaid insurance, and the thing is, there are so many devices, so many treatments out there that can help stroke survivors, TBS survivors recover, but it’s not covered. You want us to get back and help ourselves and get back to being successful members of society, give us the resources to heal,” he said. 

If you would like to support Smith and read his book,, ‘My Fatal First Date,” you can purchase a copy here. 

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