Keshone Smith found guilty for murder of Pine Bluff officer [Video]

PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Keshone Smith has been found guilty for the 2020 murder of Pine Bluff Detective Kevin Collins.

A jury found Smith guilty of first-degree murder, but not guilty on the two counts of battery. Smith will serve 35 years in prison, 30 years for the murder charge and five years for firearm enhancement.

Collins was fatally shot after responding to the Econo Lodge motel on Blake Street around noon on October 5, 2020. Officers were responding to the scene to arrest Smith, who had a warrant for his arrest out of Georgia.

On that day, a shootout would occur between police and Smith, who was with a group of people.

Smith’s attorney argued self-defense during the trial and that an officer shot at them and alleged it was police fire that killed Collins. His attorney also argued that the investigation was not fair.

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