Lakewood Carjacker Who Shot Case Western Student Sentenced

CLEVELAND — Shamar Smiley has been sentenced to prison for carjacking a Lakewood man and shooting a Case Western Reserve University student. Smiley will spend the next three decades in prison, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O'Malley announced.

“Smiley nearly killed one victim and endangered the lives of many others during his crime spree,” said O’Malley. “Our thoughts remain with the victim who is still recovering both physically and mentally from this senseless crime.”

Smiley's crime spree started on March 8, 2018, prosecutors said. As a 66-year-old Lakewood man was brushing snow off his car, which was parked in a lot near W. 117th Street and Franklin Boulevard, Smiley and another man walked up to him and stole his car.

The stolen car was found on March 9 by Cleveland police. Investigators linked Smiley to the theft using DNA evidence, prosecutors said.

Months later, on October 6, 2018, Smiley escaped from the Community Based Correctional Facility (CBCF) in Cleveland. Surveillance footage shows Smiley and another man ram through a door and then run off.

On October 8, Smiley broke into his mother's home in Cleveland, near Harvard Avenue and Lee Road. He smashed a side door window and then stole healthcare products before running off. Fingerprints found on the windowpane matched Smiley's fingerprints, prosecutors said.

Finally, on November 3, 2018, Smiley and another man tried to carjack a 20-year-old student at Case Western Reserve University. According to prosecutors, Smiley demanded the student's car but as the student tried to hand over his keys, Smiley shot him in the stomach. Both Smiley and the other man ran off, leaving the 20-year-old with a gunshot wound.

Police found Smiley in a nearby field. He ran off and hid in a ditch, but was quickly surrounded by officers. Smiley shot at police several times before officers shot and wounded him. Smiley was given first aid until EMS arrived. He was then taken to the hospital for treatment and subsequently arrested.

The wounded student was taken to a nearby hospital and rushed into emergency surgery. The student has had to undergo several additional surgeries and is still recovering from his wound, prosecutors said.

Smiley pleaded guilty to the following charges:

Smiley pled guilty to the following charges related to the 4 incidents:

• 1 count of attempted murder
• 2 counts of aggravated robbery
• 5 counts of felonious assault
• 1 count of robbery
• 1 count of burglary
• 1 count of theft
• 1 count of criminal damaging or endangering
• 1 count of escape