Zachary Terrell Smith
A man who numerous people witnessed gun down another man in a convenience store parking lot has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder.
Zachary Terrell Smith, who was 33 at the time of the New Year's Day 2022 killing, was given a 15-year prison sentence. He initially was charged with criminal homicide, reckless endangerment and gun charges.
The victim was 27-year-old Ladarius Howard in the incident at the parking lot of the Shell station on Wilcox Boulevard.
Smith, after the incident, was taken into custody at Bridgeport, Ala.
In the incident, police were notified at 5:13 p.m. that a person had been shot at the convenience store. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he died. He had a wound on the left side of his body.
Police found two spent .556 shell casings in the parking lot by a gas pump.
Video was obtained of the incident showing a man identified as Smith walking up to the front door with a gun inside his jacket.
A short time later, the victim arrived on the scene in a vehicle sitting behind the driver. The man who had walked up to the door is seen getting out of a truck and walking over to the victim. He opened the door and began firing.
Police said multiple people were on the parking lot at the time of the shooting and a number of people picked Smith out of photo lineups. Police identified him as the man at the front door through use of his driver's license photo.