Angelo Smith (Macomb County Jail)
MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. (FOX 2) - More than four years after authorities say a then-17-year-old stole a Jeep from a Macomb County dealership and caused a fatal crash during a police chase, the suspect has entered a plea.
Angelo Rickey Smith, 21, of Detroit, pleaded no contest Thursday to second-degree homicide, first-degree fleeing and eluding, breaking and entering a building with intent, and larceny in a building.
The backstory:
Authorities said Smith and three other men broke into a Washington Township car dealership in April 2021 and stole several vehicles. This led to police chasing Smith, who at times exceeded 130 mph while fleeing south on M-53.
During this chase, authorities say Smith ran a red light at 15 Mile in Sterling Heights and hit two vehicles. This crash killed a 20-year-old woman.
"This remains a deeply troubling issue," Macomb County Prosecutor Pete Lucido said. "Here, a young man stole a vehicle and then made the decision to flee from the police which resulted in the death of an innocent young woman whose life was just ahead of her. There must be consequences to stop this behavior before it ends up with these tragic results."
What's next:
Smith will be sentenced Sept. 4.
Michigan lawmakers want minimum prison sentences for running from police
Some Michigan lawmakers are working to pass a bill that would set minimum prison sentences for people who run from police. The bill comes amid a flurry of police chases, some ending with fatalities.
The Source: Previous FOX 2 reporting and a Macomb County Prosecutor's Office press release were used in this story.
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