What we know - and don't know - about the shooting death of South Side's Kevin Smith
The death of 60-year-old Kevin Smith, a homeless man who was found shot inside a detached garage on the South Side earlier this month, has generated significant community reaction from those who say he was a well-known figure in the neighborhood.
Smith was found around 6 a.m. on April 15 inside a detached garage on the 600 block of East Whittier Street in the Southern Orchards neighborhood. He died at the scene a short time later.
Few details have been released about what happened. Here's what we know, and what we don't, about Smith's death and the ongoing investigation.
What happened in the shooting?
Columbus police have released limited details in the shooting. Police said they received a call around 6 a.m. that night about a reported trespasser. Before officers could arrive on the scene, there was a second call that the trespasser had been shot by someone at the residence.
Responding officers arrived to find Smith dead from gunshot wounds in the home's detached garage. Afterward, police indicated that Smith was shot and killed by a homeowner.
Police have not released information about what was said on the 911 calls, which have not been released. The Dispatch has requested the 911 calls, incident report and other documents.
Who was involved in the shooting?
Columbus police have not released the names of anyone else involved in the incident. The division said in a press release that the case will be fully investigated and then sent to the Franklin County Prosecutor's office for review. The release did not specify whether the shooter was a male or a female.
The Dispatch attempted to contact someone listed as the owner of the property on Tuesday. That person said it was not their address and hung up the phone.
Who was Kevin Smith?
Mike Premo, executive director of United Methodist Church & Community Development for All People, said Smith was a beloved member of the faith-based, nonprofit community organization and well-known on the South Side.
Premo called Smith's death "tragic and completely avoidable" and said Smith posed no danger, while adding he did not know what happened inside the garage. Premo said it was likely Smith was sleeping in the garage.
"Knowing Kevin, there is absolutely no way he posed any threat to anyone. He would've followed directions and left if asked," Premo said.
Smith "always had a smile and kind word," Premo said, and was a volunteer, churchgoer and frequently attended Bible studies. Premo said Smith had obtained a law degree, but he was not a registered attorney in Ohio, according to the Ohio Supreme Court.
Premo and other staff and volunteers at United Methodist Church & Community Development for All People got to know Smith over the last two years when he stayed at the organization's warming center. The organization held a memorial service and reception for Smith on Tuesday at its building at 946 Parsons Avenue.
Could charges be filed in the shooting?
Any decision on whether charges will be presented to a grand jury will be made by the Franklin County Prosecutor's office.
Ohio has a self-defense law, commonly called Stand Your Ground, which means a person has a right to defend themselves or their property. The law specifically states, "a person has no duty to retreat before using force in self-defense, defense of another, or defense of that person's residence if that person is in a place in which the person lawfully has a right to be."
However, because Smith was shot inside a detached garage, which is not typically considered a part of a residence under Ohio law, it is unknown whether stand your ground would apply.
What occurred inside the detached garage, forensic evidence in the case and witness statements would all be factored into a decision about charges.
How long will a decision take?
There is no timeline for when the investigation will be completed and sent to the prosecutor's office. There is also no timeline for how long the prosecutor's office might take to review the case.
bbruner@dispatch.com
@bethany_bruner
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What we know and what we don't in death of Kevin Smith
