The Case of LaKeith Smith

<p>In 2015, a police officer shot and killed LaKeith Smith’s friend, A’Donte Washington, during a burglary gone wrong. But years later, LaKeith is the one behind bars for murder. </p><p>LaKeith was originally given a sentence of 65-years, after beingc onvicted of burglary, theft, and something called felony murder. </p><p>In certain criminal cases, the <a href="https://www.sentencingproject.org/reports/felony-murder-an-on-ramp-for-extreme-sentencing/" target="_blank">felony murder rule</a> allows a person to be charged with murder even if they’re not the one who did the killing. Experts say it’s a legal charge that disproportionately hurts young, Black and brown men. </p><p>In a March resentencing hearing, a judge ruled that LaKeith’s sentences could be served concurrently, thus reducing his overall time; but LaKeith’s family and supporters were still left heartbroken, because even with this reduction, he’s facing a 30-year sentence.</p><p>Trymaine Lee spoke to LaKeith’s mother, Tina Smith, about her family’s continued <a href="https://justiceforlakeithsmith.com/" target="_blank">fight for justice</a>. And we talked to lawyer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/CqERKFqpt0f/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=" target="_blank">Leroy Maxwell</a> and activist <a href="https://twitter.com/DanielForkkio?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank">Daniel Forkkio,</a> along with Andre Washington, the father of A’Donte Washington, about what true justice for his son would look like. </p><p>Follow and share the show on <a href="https://twitter.com/intoamericapod" target="_blank">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/intoamericapod" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/intoamericapod" target="_blank">Instagram</a>, using the handle <strong>@intoamericapod</strong>.</p><p>Thoughts? Feedback? Story ideas? Write to us at <a href="mailto:intoamerica@nbcuni.com" target="_blank">intoamerica@nbcuni.com.</a></p><p>For a transcript, please visit <a href="https://www.msnbc.com