Mississippi Detective, Eric Smith Shot Four Times with Own Weapon

By Alicia Cruz
Yahoo News Contributor

Det. Eric Smith/Photo Jackson PD

Jackson, Mississippi police issued a press release on the shooting of a Jackson detective at the East Pascagoula Street Police Department Headquarters on Thursday, April 4, 2013, at 5:40 p.m.

The shooting, which took place on the third floor of police headquarters, is being called a murder-suicide.

The shooter, Jeremy Powell was brought to JPD for questioning in relation to the April 1, 2013 stabbing death of Christopher Alexander. Police say Powell was not under arrest, but was considered a suspect in the murder.
 
As Powell was being questioned by Detective Eric Smith, an altercation began and within seconds, other officers on the third floor heard gunshots. When the officers entered the interrogation room, they found their colleague and Powell dead. No other injuries were reported.

According to the Jackson PD press release, Smith and Powell,23, struggled during the altercation and Powell managed to overpower Smith and remove his 9mm service weapon from its holster. He fired several shots, killing Smith before turning the weapon on himself.

Hinds County Coroner Sharon Grisham-Stewart said Detective Smith died of four gunshot wounds, two in the chest and two in his arm. Powell died of one self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

Detective Smith, age 40, joined the Jackson police department in June 1995 and was assigned to the Robbery Homicide Division. He is survived by his wife, Eneke and two sons, Eric Jr., and Quentin all of Clinton, Mississippi in Hinds County. Eneke Williams Smith is a Sergeant with the Jackson Police Department.

Officials say Smith, recognized as an extremely dedicated officer and one of the best lawmen in Jackson, had a number of high-profile murder investigations under his professional belt. Gov. Phil Bryant, a former Hinds County sheriff's deputy, spoke of Smith's passing during a ceremony marking the 75th anniversary of the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

The Mississippi Bureau of Investigations is taking over the investigation into Smith's shooting.

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Contact reporter Alicia Cruz at: nj.newsroom.cruz@gmail.com  on Twitter at alicia_c_