Suspect killed after police chase
Les “Mobley” Smith is no stranger to the police but residents of East Collet Canal said there was no reason for the police to shoot him. Smith died early Saturday morning after he was chased by police officers and then shot as he hid in the attic of an abandoned building. Today the police have launched an intensive investigation into the incident.
The surgical glove used by police and the bloodstains remain on the floor where Les “Mobley” Smith was shot early Saturday morning. Smith was being chased by the police, but managed to temporarily escape by running inside an abandoned building on East Collet Canal. However, sources tell News Five that not long after Smith entered the two storey wooden house, police quickly caught up with him. Witnesses say they saw when two police officers, one nicknamed “Cowboy”, went inside the building.
Jacqueline Woods
“It is not clear what unfolded inside the abandoned building, but witnesses tell News Five that shortly after two police men entered the house, they heard a gunshot.”
Witnesses say before the shot rang out, they heard when the police shouted that Smith had a knife, but also heard when Smith replied saying “I don’t have a knife”. Witnesses tell News Five they also heard when the police said, “Let’s take him downstairs and beat him.” That’s when they heard Smith say “Chill, Chill why do you want to beat me…?” and then the gunshot. One witness who did not wish to appear on camera said Smith was not armed when he was shot.
Voice Of Witness
“They come in this yard and they started to break down the place. So they are searching for about half an hour and they didn’t find anybody. So after a while, I heard one of the policemen say “See the man here.” The other policeman asked where he was and he said in the attic. So the man said “Alright, make him come down.” The policeman then said “Mobley, come out.” Mobley said “Alright, I’m coming out.” The policeman said “Let go of the knife that you have in your hands.” Mobley said that he didn’t have any knife in his hands and that he is coming out. The policeman downstairs then said “Shoot him then, if he doesn’t want to let go of the knife.” Then the next policeman hollered, “But the man wants to stab me.” And when he said that, it’s then that they shoot the man.”
Today the Police Internal Affairs is investigating the incident. According to Fitzroy Yearwood, acting police press officer, two police officers were on patrol in the Bishop and King streets area when they saw their suspect and gave chase. Smith was wanted by the Criminal Investigation Branch for a series of thefts and burglaries.
Fitzroy Yearwood, Police Press Officer
“Leslie Smith ran from the police into an abandoned house on East Canal, located between King and Bishop Streets. It is a house that we believe is owned by the Chavez family. This house has no stairs, so the police, there were two police officers in pursuit of Smith that followed him into this house. Smith ran into the attic of this house. The police officers went after him, whereby one of them told him to come out. Smith refused to come out.”
Yearwood says Smith was asked several times to come out of the building, but he threatened the police and they had no other option, but to shoot.
Fitzroy Yearwood
“The police officers went after Smith and he threatened him that he would kill him. “I will kill you.” That’s what Smith threatened the police officer with.”
Jacqueline Woods
“Did Smith have a weapon?”
Fitzroy Yearwood
“Well, according to the officers on the scene, Smith had an object that looked like a knife in his hand and Smith advanced towards him. He shouted to Smith to drop the weapon and stop, but Smith kept advancing and he pulled out his service revolver to defend himself.”
However, witnesses tell News Five that Smith could not have approached the policemen because he kept inside the attic and even pushed both his hands through the attic’s opening to prove that he had no weapon. Yearwood also disputes reports that the police tied up Smith before he was shot.
Fitzroy Yearwood
“In order for the body to be transported to the KHMH, the police had to tie the body to lower it through a window. In the tying of this body to lower it through the window, we knew that the rope would cause some marks on the body, so we had to leave the ropes on that certain area of the body around the feet that they were tied to show the doctors that yes, these were to ropes that cause those certain marks. By no means, was this body tied up hand and feet like it’s some hostage situation. The body was only tied up to be lowered.”
Smith received one bullet to the chest and died shortly after.
Yearwood says the police have in their possession the shiny object, which has been identified as a knife. Meanwhile, police are appealing to anyone who may have information to please come forward to help them in their investigation.
