Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
WTVR CBS 6
Court docs shed light on what may have led to deadly house party shooting
By Jake Burns,
26 days ago
HANOVER COUNTY, Va. -- The 18-year-old charged with killing another teen at a Hanover County house party earlier this month was held without bond Wednesday. Authorities arrested James Smith, who is from Ashland, in the shooting death of 16-year-old Matthew Devine, who is from Colonial Heights.
Smith is charged with first-degree murder and multiple weapons charges stemming from the shooting that happened during a large house party off McClellan Road on April 6.
New court documents reveal in greater detail what allegedly led up to the shooting.
A friend of Devine's at the party said the 16-year-old bumped into an unidentified male during the party, who then flashed a weapon, according to a search warrant in the case.
Witnesses told investigators the unidentified male left the house, and Devine followed him to the driveway, the documents say.
Both teens were armed and fired their weapons, according to court documents.
Devine was shot in the chest and died on the scene, authorities wrote. The search warrant was carried out before Smith's arrest.
An affidavit attached to the search warrant shows investigators recovered cartridge casings from two different types of firearms from the scene.
"There’s two different types of guns that were fired here," CBS 6 legal analyst Todd Stone, who reviewed the search warrants, said. "There's a lot going on here and a lot to unpack for a prosecutor and a defense attorney. And so they're going to be processing not just this information, but also any videos that were shot, as well as autopsy results and forensics from the scene because that will help tell the whole story.”
Stone cautioned that search warrants only contain limited amounts of evidence, but based on the narrative provided to investigators, he expected Smith's defense attorney will likely pursue a self-defense angle.
"With the entry wound in the front, the victim following the defendant out of the house, more than one firearm being fired: those are the types of factors that lend themselves really well to self defense claim," Stone said.
Smith is due back in court in June.
Depend on CBS 6 News and WTVR.com for in-depth coverage of this important local story. Anyone with more information can email newstips@wtvr.com to send a tip .
Chesterfield has not accepted Richmond's request to help fund homeless shelters
Advocates who serve the homeless population across Central Virginia say they're noticing a growing need, including an assistant pastor at Belmont United Methodist Church.
Chesterfield has not accepted Richmond's request to help fund homeless shelters
Every day CBS 6 News is Giving You A Voice by sharing your story. Depend on CBS 6 News' award-winning team of investigative journalists for in-depth stories that matter to our community. We follow through, get answers and solve problems. Click here to submit a story idea for CBS 6 Investigative Reporter Tyler Lane, Elizabeth Holmes or Laura French.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
Welcome to NewsBreak, an open platform where diverse perspectives converge. Most of our content comes from established publications and journalists, as well as from our extensive network of tens of thousands of creators who contribute to our platform. We empower individuals to share insightful viewpoints through short posts and comments. It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency: our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. We strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation. Join us in shaping the news narrative together.
Comments / 0