Wisconsin man sentenced to 16 years for Christmas Day shooting
Jan 10, 2025
BELOIT, Wis. (WFRV) - An 18-year-old Beloit man has been sentenced to 16 years in the Wisconsin State Prison System for a 2023 Christmas Day shooting that injured a 19-year-old woman.
Jahmir Smith was sentenced Wednesday to eight years in prison, followed by eight years of extended supervision, for his role in the shooting.
Upper Peninsula man dies after being hit by vehicle near Wisconsin-Michigan border
According to authorities, Beloit police responded to reports of gunfire on Christmas morning and discovered a vehicle riddled with bullet holes. The driver, a 19-year-old woman, suffered a gunshot wound but survived after officers applied a tourniquet and transported her to a hospital.
Investigators determined Smith had pointed a gun at the victim and fired. After eluding law enforcement for several days, Smith was apprehended following a foot chase.
Smith pleaded guilty to attempted second-degree homicide. While his defense attorney argued for a three-year prison sentence, the prosecution sought more than a decade. Judge Ashley Morse ultimately sentenced Smith to 16 years, citing the seriousness of the offense.
"Gun violence in our community must be taken seriously," said Rock County District Attorney Jason Sanders. "The District Attorney’s Office will continue securing guilty verdicts and significant punishment in cases like this."
Man who fired gun inside Oshkosh retail store arrested for endangering safety
A second individual, 24-year-old Enrique A. Benitez-Avila, was charged with obstructing an officer for aiding Smith after the shooting. He was convicted on November 4, 2024, and ordered to pay a fine.
No additional details were provided.