Lakeith Smith and the Felony Murder Rule

In 2015, in Millbrook, Alabama, 15 year old Lakeith Smith joined up with 4 other friends, all teenagers, who planned to do a couple of break ins. While attempting to rob an empty home, a suspicious neighbor called the police. When officers arrived the teens fled, Smith hid in a closet scared; however, Smith's friend, 16 year old A'Donte Washington, was shot and killed by an officer. The surviving teens were taken into custody and charged with the murder of A'Donte Washington. How did an unarmed 15 year old get charged with the murder of his friend shot by police? Join us as we explore the accomplice law and the felony murder rule used against these boys who are now in prison for the majority of their lives. Hear from Lakeith's mother and the team behind the fight for justice and learn how you can help! 

 

 

 

Sources:

 

• https://www.change.org/p/united-states-supreme-court-justice-for-lakeith-smith
• https://www.gofundme.com/f/justiceforlakeithsmith-campaign
• https://www.justia.com/criminal/offenses/homicide/felony-murder/
• https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/2019/10/17/lakeith-smith-65-years-elmore-accomplice-law-killing-case-sentence-reduced-10-years/3869526002/
• https://www.aclu.org/blog/smart-justice/lakeith-smith-case-demonstrates-systems-brokenness
• https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/juvenile/stats/kidslikeadults.html
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43673331
• https://www.newsweek.com/lakeith-smith-alabama-accomplice-law-murder-police-petition-1510870
• https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/apr/15/alabama-accomplice-law-lakeith-smith
• https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/convicted-of-murder-but-a-police-officer-pulled-the-trigger