Search Results for: Smith

Mother accused of shooting son over disrespect during Christmas brunch

Miami, FL A woman is facing charges after allegedly shooting her son outside a restaurant on Christmas Day. Roseita Lavette Smith, 50, has been charged with aggravated battery with a weapon after the incident outside the Red Rooster restaurant.

Smith was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center just after midnight on Friday, and she is being held without bond.

Reports indicate that the altercation began during a brunch inside the Red Rooster on Northwest 2nd Avenue, where Smith accused her son of disrespecting her and other family members.

The argument escalated and moved outside around 3 p.m. as the two were in her vehicle.

As the son exited the vehicle, Smith allegedly followed him and fired a single gunshot, hitting him in the thigh.

Emergency responders found the victim on the ground, bleeding from the wound, and transported him to a local hospital, where he was reported in stable condition.

Following the shooting, Smith allegedly fled the scene but was located by police later that day.

Smith reportedly claimed self-defense, stating her son threatened her after refusing to exit her vehicle, and explained that she feared for her safety based on past encounters.

The victim identified Smith as the shooter, resulting in her arrest.

Father faces charges after children endure perilous hike in Utah

Salt Lake City, UT A father is accused of endangering the lives of his three children during a treacherous hike in the Wasatch Mountain Range last week. Micah Smith, 31, faces six felony counts related to child torture and aggravated child abuse, which could lead to a significant prison sentence. His defense attorney seeks to limit media exposure related to the case, arguing that it could negatively impact the children.

Defense attorney Kayla Mahoney filed a motion in Salt Lake County court requesting that cameras be banned from the courtroom. The motion states that images of their father in handcuffs may harm the minors emotionally.

The argument posits that any exposure to courtroom images is unnecessary for the children. The motion highlights a “reasonable likelihood” that media coverage may adversely affect their well-being.

The hiking incident occurred in early October at Big Cottonwood Canyon. There, Smith took his children, ages 2, 4, and 8, on the Broads Fork Trail, which is rated “hard.”

As conditions deteriorated, Smith allegedly ignored pleas from his children and their mother to turn back. The charging documents recount multiple instances where the children expressed discomfort and requested to leave.

Failing to heed his daughter’s concerns as the storm approached, Smith stated it was a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience. When conditions worsened, he left the children alone early in the morning to seek help.

The family was rescued by a search and rescue team utilizing a helicopter. Investigators discovered evidence on Smith’s phone showing his wife’s repeated inquiries about the children’s safety.

Moreover, a video showed his daughter worrying about freezing to death. The prosecution has yet to respond to the defense’s motion regarding courtroom cameras.