U.S. Marshals assisted Gastonia Police in arresting Travice Smarr, 36, on February 5, 2026, for his role in the armed robbery and shooting of a restaurant owner at China City on Davis Park Road in February 2024.​​
Incident Details
The robbery occurred around 9:30 p.m. on February 18, 2024, as the restaurant was closing; two masked suspects broke in through the back door, forced employees into the dining area, emptied the cash register of an undisclosed amount, and shot owner Hong Li in the leg. Li’s wife, Dan Dan Li, reported hearing multiple gunshots while her husband checked on the disturbance; he recovered in a Charlotte hospital after the attack.​
Arrest Status
Smarr faces charges including assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, robbery with a dangerous weapon, second-degree kidnapping, simple assault, and possession of a firearm by a felon; he is held without bond and was due in court shortly after his arrest. No updates confirm the arrest of the second suspect as of the latest reports from February 5, 2026.​
