Reward Offered For Killer Of DC Punk's Beefeater Guitarist

WASHINGTON, DC — Someone must have information that could lead to the killer who stabbed pioneering Washington, D.C., punk rocker Frederick "Freak" Smith at a crowded San Fernando Valley park, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors are hoping. The board voted Tuesday to renew a $10,000 reward for information leading to the killer.

Smith, best known as the guitarist for the DC punk-funk fusion band Beefeater, had fallen on hard times before he died. Once one of the more prominent African-Americans in punk rock, Smith was living in a home catering to individuals with mental disabilities before he ended up on the street. His body was found stabbed to death behind the softball fields in Las Palmas Park on Aug. 8.

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl recommended extending the reward -- which was set to expire Dec. 10 -- to help find the killer of Frederick Smith, once a prominent punk rock musician.

"Many families were in the park. Kids were practicing baseball in the nearby fields," Kuehl said, adding that investigators hope someone witnessed the crime or can provide other clues that could be helpful.

Kuehl praised Smith's contributions to music.

"He paved the way for African-American musicians in the punk genre," Kuehl said when the reward was first announced in September.

Smith, played with several bands, including Beefeater and Strange Boutique. The 55-year-old musician had a following in West Hollywood and Washington, D.C., where he grew up.

Musician and record label owner Ian MacKaye praised Smith's talent in an interview with L.A. Weekly.

"Beefeater was a revolutionary band," MacKaye told the publication. "Their fusion of metal, funk and jazz at a time when hardcore ruled supreme was popular in D.C., mainly because Freak was an extremely gifted musician and a real kook, unlike anyone else. He was enthusiastic and bold."

Anyone with information about Smith's killing was urged to call sheriff's homicide Detectives Dean Camarillo or Eduardo Aguirre at (323) 890- 5500 or Crime Stoppers, (800) 222-TIPS (8477).

City News Service and Patch staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report. Photo: Youtube screengrab.