A 58-year-old Pine Hill man has been convicted in a 2016 shooting at a Wilcox County pool hall that left an innocent bystander dead, and the shooter’s girlfriend wounded.
A jury on Thursday deliberated for 40 minutes before convicting James Leon Smith of manslaughter, attempted murder and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm, said District Attorney Michael Jackson. The verdict followed a week-long trial.
The shooting happened between 2 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. on March 20, 2016, at a pool hall in Yellow Bluff.
Killed was 49-year-old Ponell Nicholson. Authorities said she was not the intended victim.
Tawoyna Portis had been in a relationship with Smith, Jackson said. She was at the pool hall that morning when Smith tested her, and then showed up at the establishment. An argument followed.
Smith pulled his gun and fired, hitting Nicholson who was killed.
Portis was struck in the shoulder but survived.
Wilcox County Circuit Judge Collins Pettaway has ordered a pre-sentencing investigation and report. Jackson said Smith is facing two possible life sentences because of a prior conviction in another state.
“Unfortunately,” Jackson said, “domestic violence often turns deadly.”
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