A 48-year-old California man has been charged with the murders of a young father and his toddler daughter, who were caught up a gang shooting in front of the father’s grandmother’s house 22 years ago.
Jahon Terez Smith has been charged with several 2001 shootings that resulted in the deaths of Stephen Murphy and his daughter Kali on August 8, 2001, Law&Crime reported. Two others were wounded in the shootings, according to Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.
Smith, aka “Quant,” is charged with two counts of murder and four counts of attempted willful, deliberate, and premeditated attempted murder with special circumstances, the district attorney said.
“We feel that justice may not always be swift, but it will be sweet,” said Phyllis Murphy, Stephen Murphy’s mother.
The district attorney’s office said that Smith conspired with others in a series of drive-by shootings targeting Hispanics in Compton, a relationship for a gang shooting the previous night.
Murphy and little Kali were outside, in front of his grandmother’s home when he heard the gunfire. The grabbed his daughter, and they were shot as he tried to carry her into the house.
“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.
Smith was arrested on October 30 and ordered held without bail. He is due in court on November 29 for arraignment and faces a maximum of life without parole if convicted.
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[Featured image: Stephen Murphy, Kali Murphy, Jahon Terez Smith/Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office]
