North Carolina man sentenced to over seven years in prison for charge related to drive-by shooting

Published 7:10 am Saturday, July 10, 2021

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A Rocky Mount man was sentenced to 87 months in prison for possessing multiple firearms despite being a previously convicted felon, according to a July 8 press release from the U.S. Attorney’s office, Eastern District of North Carolina. Keyonte Da’quan Smith, 27, also known as “Smiley,” entered his guilty plea on March 3, 2021.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Smith and another unidentified subject were observed operating a sedan and shooting multiple rounds of ammunition into another vehicle while in traffic.

“The victim’s vehicle side door, front panel, and windshield sustained damage from the gunfire, but the victim survived,” stated the release. “Officers located at least eight .45 caliber shell casings from the crime scene. Police tracked Smith to a nearby apartment, where he was found with 2 ski masks, two loaded .45 caliber handguns, including one that had been reported stolen, a loaded .40 caliber handgun, a large-capacity magazine, and multiple rounds of ammunition.”

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G. Norman Acker III, acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Rocky Mount Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh prosecuted.

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