Tony Bernard Smith Jr.

Deadly force

According to police, Tony Bernard Smith Jr. was part of a group of four men, at least one of whom allegedly had a handgun, that approached a 66-year-old man at the Star Wash Car Wash around 11 p.m., beat him unconscious and left in his truck. Police quickly found the truck using the other's OnStar navigation system. An officer spotted the truck about 11:45 p.m. and attempted to stop it at the Hilltop Village Apartments. All four men bailed out of the truck. The officer followed Smith, whom police alleged was driving the truck, and chased him up a flight of stairs. Smith, who was unarmed, did not obey commands from the officer, who shot and killed him. Police found a handgun between the truck and the apartment. The shooting was ruled justified by State Attorney General Office 8/31/2020.