Jahon Terez Smith, right inset, was charged in the murders of Stephen Murphy, left inset, and his daughter Kali. (Screenshots from news conference from Los Angeles station KTLA/YouTube)
A California man has been charged in the murders of a young father and his 3-year-old daughter, caught in senseless gang gunfire in front of his grandmother’s house more than two decades ago.
Jahon Terez Smith was charged in multiple shootings in 2001 that killed Stephen Murphy and his daughter Kali and wounded two others in Compton, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said in a news release. Jahon Terez Smith, aka “Quant,” 48, is charged with two counts of murder and four counts of attempted willful, deliberate, and premeditated attempted murder with special circumstances of multiple murders and that a handgun was used.
At a news conference, Stephen Murphy’s mother said she was relieved.
“We feel that justice may not always be swift, but it will be sweet,” Phyllis Murphy, the victim’s mother, said in a news conference.
Gascón expressed his sympathies to the Murphy family “for the immeasurable pain they have endured through these long years.
“The resolution of this 22-year-old cold case underscores the significance of solving crimes that have remained unsolved for far too long,” he said. “Today, we send a powerful message that we will not allow the passage of time to diminish our resolve to seek justice for victims and their families. Let this also be a reminder to all who believe they can evade the long arm of the law: no matter how much time passes, we will never stop pursuing justice on behalf of the victims and their families.”
On Aug. 8, 2001, the defendant allegedly conspired with a group of people to commit a series of drive-by shootings against Hispanics in the city of Compton in retaliation for a gang shooting the night before.
Murphy and his daughter were shot while he was carrying her into his grandmother’s home to try to protect her from gunfire he heard outside.
“Stephen snatched Kali out of the car and made a dash for his grandmother’s front door in order to protect Kali. But that day, evil won,” LA County Sheriff’s Lt. Hugo Reynaga said at the news conference.
“He was still holding his little girl when he died,” Joseph “Joby” Matthews, Murphy’s uncle, told the Los Angeles Times in August 2001.
Norman Collier, a cousin, told The Times then — “Whoever did this didn’t care, ’cause I’m sure they saw his daughter in his arms, and they still did it.”
Smith was booked into jail without bail on Oct. 30. His arraignment is set for Nov. 29. If convicted as charged, Smith will face a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole.
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