b: 1977
Summary
Name:
Lawrence Joey SmithNickname:
Joey SmithYears Active:
1999Birth:
July 06, 1977Status:
ImprisonedClass:
MurdererVictims:
1Method:
ShootingNationality:
USAb: 1977
Summary: Murderer
Name:
Lawrence Joey SmithNickname:
Joey SmithStatus:
ImprisonedVictims:
1Method:
ShootingNationality:
USABirth:
July 06, 1977Years Active:
1999Date Convicted:
May 3, 2001“If you do give me a chance to live the rest of my life in prison… I’ll do my best to do as much good as I can.”
— Lawrence Joey Smith
Lawrence Joey Smith was born on July 6, 1977. He grew up in Florida. Smith lived in a difficult environment. He struggled with drugs throughout his youth. These issues influenced many of his decisions as he grew older.
Growing up, Smith was known to be in trouble often. He had conflicts with the law at a young age. Friends and family noticed that he moved in the wrong circles. There were signs that he was falling into a life that led to serious consequences.
On September 14, 1999, Lawrence Joey Smith was arrested for the murder of 17-year-old Robert Crawford in Pasco County, Florida. Earlier that day, an individual named Faunce Pearce had given money to a group, including Crawford, to buy drugs. When they returned without the drugs or the money, Pearce confronted them with a gun. He forced them into a home at gunpoint.
Pearce then gathered Smith and others and traveled with them to a remote area. During the ride, Smith and Pearce exchanged guns. After some time, Pearce stopped the car. He ordered Stephen Tuttle, one of the boys, to get out of the car, and Smith shot Tuttle in the back of the head. Tuttle survived the shooting, but Crawford was next. Smith let Crawford out and then shot him twice, once in the head and once in the chest.
After the shooting, Smith threatened other witnesses not to tell anyone what happened. The group then went out to eat before disposing of the gun used in the crime by throwing it into Tampa Bay. Smith was arrested later that day as he tried to leave town.
On September 17, 1999, Smith was indicted on charges of first-degree murder for Crawford's death and attempted first-degree murder for shooting Tuttle. Smith pleaded not guilty. A jury found him guilty on all counts in May 2001, and he was sentenced to death for the murder of Crawford and life for the attempted murder of Tuttle.
Smith's death sentence was overturned in 2004 due to a judicial error, and he was resentenced in 2008. His conviction was upheld, but he continued to face legal battles regarding his sentencing.
