Alex Gianturco, an Eve Online player and a friend of Mr. Smith’s, said on his blog on Wednesday that he had been chatting online with Mr. Smith before the attack, and Mr. Smith indicated that he knew he was in some danger. He wrote as protesters gathered outside: “Assuming we don’t die tonight. We saw one of our ‘police’ that guard the compound taking pictures.”

Alex Gianturco, an Eve Online player and a friend of Mr. Smith’s, said on his blog on Wednesday that he had been chatting online with Mr. Smith before the attack, and Mr. Smith indicated that he knew he was in some danger.

He wrote as protesters gathered outside: “Assuming we don’t die tonight. We saw one of our ‘police’ that guard the compound taking pictures.”