Convicted felon guilty of attempted murder in 2020 Brooksville shooting
A Florida jury found Galvin Bernard Smith, 51, guilty of Attempted First-Degree Murder with a Firearm in a 2020 Hernando County shooting. Sentencing is pending a presentencing investigation.
Florida jury convicts repeat felon over 2020 Brooksville shooting
A jury in Hernando County, Florida last week found 51-year-old Galvin Bernard Smith — a multi-time convicted felon — guilty of Attempted First-Degree Murder with a Firearm, according to sao5.org. The verdict followed a few hours of deliberation in a case rooted in a June 2020 shooting. Sentencing has yet to be scheduled, pending a court-ordered presentencing investigation.
"This conviction is the result of years of work to hold the defendant accountable for a violent act that could have taken a life," State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit Bill Gladson said. "Our office will continue to pursue justice for victims and ensure that violent offenders are brought to justice for their actions."
The 2020 shooting
On 21 June 2020, deputies with the Hernando County Sheriff's Office (HCSO) responded to a reported shooting off Lincoln Road in Brooksville. They found the victim at a residence, conscious despite sustaining multiple apparent gunshot wounds, and able to provide information to investigators.
The victim told detectives that Smith — someone known to them — arrived at their home, where a verbal argument broke out. During the altercation, Smith drew a handgun and attempted to fire at the victim, but the weapon jammed. As the victim turned to flee, Smith unjammed the firearm and discharged multiple rounds, striking the victim. Smith then left the scene in a rented Maserati.
Authorities gathered the victim's statement before the victim was airlifted for medical treatment. Evidence collected at the scene included spent shell casings.
Rented Maserati leads to arrest
Deputies quickly began searching for the getaway vehicle. A short time later, they conducted a traffic stop on the Maserati. The sole occupant, 59-year-old Kathy Redding — now known as Kathy Smith — told officers she had the vehicle all morning and had simply gone to get coffee.
When investigators questioned Smith, he denied all involvement, despite the victim identifying both him and the car. Forensic examination of the Maserati produced fingerprints matching Smith. Cellular data established that Smith had contacted Redding to arrange a vehicle swap following the shooting. GPS records from the car showed it had stopped on a bridge between leaving the crime scene and the exchange. A dive team subsequently searched the river at that location and recovered a firearm; testing later confirmed it was the weapon used in the crime.
Smith was arrested and charged on the basis of the victim's account and the forensic evidence gathered. Redding was subsequently arrested and charged with accessory after the fact.
Prosecution
Assistant State Attorney Lori Ellingsworth prosecuted the case. State Attorney Gladson extended acknowledgement to the HCSO, forensics personnel, and the dive team for their work on the investigation.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)