So it surprised no one that on a cold, wet April night in 2010, he confronted a neighbor -- a friend -- who had been shooting a gun off in the middle of the street.
Nearly two years after that confrontation left Smith dying in the street of gunshot wounds, Michael C. Taylor III, was convicted of his murder.
"I know my son. This was someone he felt he would be safe and comfortable around," Sherin Davis-Henlay said Thursday of Taylor, who just days before he shot and killed her son, was hanging out at his house.
"[Darrin] was trying to stop the chaos and the violence that Michael was creating. My son couldn't do it alone, but in the long run, he did it," Mrs. Davis-Henlay said. "He lost his life, but he did it."
Taylor, 20, of 1366 Grand Ave. was sentenced Thursday in Lucas County Common Pleas Court to life in prison with parole eligibility after 18 years.
Just moments earlier, he was found guilty by a jury of murder with a gun specification for the April, 24, 2010, shooting death of Smith, 20.
Twelve witnesses testified over two days about the aftermath of a few chaotic moments in the 1300 block of Grand Avenue.
Witnesses said the incident began when Smith told Taylor to stop shooting a gun into the air because the street was still full of young people. Taylor responded by directing the gun at Smith and shooting at least four times. Two of those bullets were fatal.
According to testimony from a deputy Lucas County coroner, Smith died as a result of multiple gunshot wounds, one of which was fired so close to him, the gunpowder burned through three layers of clothing and could be found on his skin.
Assistant County Prosecutor Michael Bahner told the jury of seven women and five men during closing arguments that "sometimes things are as simple as they appear."
"We know that Michael Taylor killed Darrin Smith simply because he felt disrespected. We know that Michael Taylor is nothing more than a boy who thought he was a gangster and who is nothing without his gun," he said.
Attorney Meira Zucker told jurors during closing arguments to consider the "problematic" testimony offered by witnesses and the lack of physical evidence, such as a gun or shell casings. She said the conflicting testimony of some of the witnesses brought out more questions.
"A great tragedy happened here," she said. "…We're asking that you prevent another tragedy from occurring."
Attorney Don Cameron noted after the verdict that "multiple tragedies" occurred, culminating in the loss of life of one young man and the sentence of life in prison for his client. He also noted that Taylor's brother, Montelle, had been killed in June, 2011. That case is unsolved.
"In investigating this case, we pulled the records from Grand Avenue and you can see the problems escalating," he said. "I don't know what the answer is, but the problem is there for anyone to see."
Before sentencing him to prison, Judge Stacy Cook noted that the community was "acutely aware" of the violence that occurs on some Toledo streets. While jurors remained seated in the jury box, Judge Cook challenged the handcuffed Taylor to use his time in prison to better himself and not to become an even more hardened criminal.
"The facts of this case show that at best, this should have been a fist fight had that gun never been in your hand …," the judge said.
After the verdict, Assistant County Prosecutor Bruce Sorg called the case "straightforward" and noted three witnesses saw a gun in Taylor's hands that night while two separate witnesses saw him pull the trigger.
Darrin Smith, Sr., said that while he lost a son, his family recently discovered a gift that they could never imagine had existed: a grandson.
Mr. Smith, Sr., said his son did not know he was a father when he was killed and it has only been a few months since he and Smith's mother learned the news.
"It's been hell since the day it happened," he said. "But in the end, [Taylor] was found guilty and we have a grandson. Who would have figured?"