Man Pleads Guilty To Shooting Student, Stealing Car In Lakewood

CLEVELAND — Shamar Smiley pleaded guilty to shooting a Case Western Reserve University, stealing a car from a man in Lakewood, breaking into a home in Cleveland and escaping from a correctional facility.

“Smiley’s continuous disregard for the law posed an imminent threat to our community,” said Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Michael O’Malley. “The collaborative work of multiple law enforcement agencies helped bring his crime wave to an end.”

Smiley's guilty plea was connected to four cases that happened between March 8, 2018 and November 3, 2018.

On March 8, 2018, Smiley and another man walked through a Lakewood restaurant parking lot and approached a person brushing snow from their car. Smiley and the other man stole the person's car and drove off, the indictments against Smiley said.

Cleveland police found the stolen car on March 9 and found DNA evidence inside the car, O'Malley's office said. The DNA was traced to Smiley.

On October 6, 2018, Smiley escaped from the Community Based Correctional Facility (CBCF) in Cleveland. He and co-defendant Jason Vaughn, 44, broke through a door and ran off, the indictment said. Smiley was there to complete a six-month program for two previous cases.

Two days after escaping from CBCF, on October 8, Smiley broke into his mother's home in Cleveland, near Harvard Avenue and Lee Road. He smashed a side door window to get inside, O'Malley's office said.

After getting into the home, Smiley stole healthcare products and then took off before police arrived. Investigators found fingerprints on the exterior windowpane and they matched Smiley's fingerprints, the indictments said.

On November 3, 2018, Smiley and another man walked up to a 20-year-old student at Case Western Reserve University. The duo demanded the student's car. While the student was getting his keys, Smiley shot him in the stomach and then ran off, the indictment said.

The student was rushed to the hospital and required emergency surgery, O'Malley's office said.

University Circle Police, Case Western Reserve University Police and Cleveland Police all investigated the shooting and found Smiley in a nearby field, laying in a ditch. Officers ordered him out of the ditch, but Smiley began shooting at the police. The officers returned fire and Smiley had to be then be taken to a hospital for treatment.

After being treated at the hospital, Smiley was then arrested by police, O'Malley's office said.

Smiley pleaded guilty to the following charges related to the four incidents:one count of attempted murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, five counts of felonious assault, one count of robbery, one count of burglary, one count of theft, one count of criminal damaging or endangering and one count of escape.

Smiley will be sentenced on August 19, 2019.