San Pablo Man Who Killed Ex's New Boyfriend Convicted of Murder

A man who shot and killed his ex-girlfriend’s new boyfriend in San Pablo a day after a judge lifted a restraining order against him has been convicted of murder. A Contra Costa County Superior Court jury in Martinez on Wednesday afternoon found 26-year-old Donte Smith guilty of murder and attempted murder for the slaying of 30-year-old DeJuan McDonald and the near killing of Schylon Stewart, now 26, a few days before Christmas in 2012. Smith faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.

The killing happened a day after a judge removed a restraining order meant to protect Stewart from Smith, who had tried on multiple occasions to kill his ex-girlfriend by cutting her brakes and who had repeatedly stalked and harassed her, Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney Colleen Gleason said.

“The system had failed Ms. Stewart previously, so we’re very happy that the system has vindicated her now,” Gleason said. “She’s been incredibly brave throughout this whole nightmare but hopefully she and Mr. McDonald’s family can have some closure,” she said. Prosecutors said Smith followed McDonald and Stewart on the morning of Dec. 21, 2012, after the pair had dropped off the daughter the defendant shared with Stewart. As McDonald drove with Stewart on Rumrill Boulevard, Smith pulled up alongside their car and ambushed them, according to police.

Stewart spotted Smith and yelled out, “Duck!” but McDonald did not have time to react and was shot multiple times, Gleason said. He was taken to Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, where he died from his injuries. Smith fled the scene immediately after the killing, cut his hair and removed the license plates from his car. Police found him about a month after the murder in Richmond, where he had been hiding out with a girlfriend, according to prosecutors.

Jurors heard the frantic 911 call Stewart made just after the shooting, her recorded interview with police and about nine hours of courtroom testimony. Smith did not take the stand during the trial. Prosecutors said it took the jury less than two hours to reach a verdict on Wednesday. Some of McDonald’s relatives were also in the courtroom during the verdict hearing, as they have been throughout the trial, Gleason said.

The prosecutor said McDonald had been working as a counselor at a school for autistic students in the Richmond area when he was killed. He and Stewart had been dating for a few months and he had been trying to help protect her from the defendant, the prosecutor said.

“He was trying to help her, she was afraid to go home at night,” Gleason said.

By Bay City News

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