A man who was recently released from prison after serving 20 years in connection with a brutal assault in Winston-Salem was shot Friday night. Smith, now 45, and his supporters have maintained his innocence.
According to a statement from the Winston-Salem Police Department, officers responded to a shooting at the 900 block of N. Jackson Ave. They found Smith lying on the sidewalk suffering from a gun shot wound. He was transported by Forsyth County EMS to a local hospital for treatment. He is listed in critical but stable condition.
Smith was released from prison in November of 2016. A jury convicted him in 1997 in connection with an assault at the Silk Plant Forest store in Winston-Salem. The attack left the victim, Jill Marker, severely brain-damaged. He was sentenced to almost 29 years in prison.
The judge in the case granted a shortened sentence for Smith. It centered on a motion filed by his attorneys, claiming that Smith's trial attorney failed to present certain information that could have resulted in a shorter sentence. Those include things such as Smith's work history and strong family support.
The ruling reserves Smith's right to continue appealing his case to try to prove his innocence. So far, both federal and state courts have ruled against all of his appeals.
Friday's shooting is an active investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call the Winston-Salem Police Department at (336) 773-7700 or Crimestoppers (336) 727-2800.