Man arrested after chase, questioned in connection with Rowan Mills shooting – Salisbury Post

SALISBURY – A 25-year-old man arrested on Wednesday, Aug. 14 on outstanding warrants for a felony is also a person investigators want to speak with regarding a fatal shooting on Rowan Mills Road that occurred Saturday, Aug. 10, according to Salisbury Police confirmation.

Kevin Antonio Smith Jr. led police from multiple agencies on a multi-county chase Thursday night that began on West Jake Alexander Boulevard before he jumped out of his car in Charlotte and attempted to flee. After a brief foot chase, police were able to apprehend Smith and take him into custody.

In last Saturday's shooting, an 80-year-old man was shot and a child was shot, who remains in critical condition in the intensive care unit of an area hospital. Shots were also fired at the same house the previous Thursday, but no one was injured. In Saturday's shooting, at least 16 people were in the house at the time of the shooting.

According to Major Justin Crews, Salisbury Police Department spokesman, Smith has now been charged with giving false information to an officer, driving while license suspended, four counts of first-degree kidnapping, robbery with a dangerous weapon, child abuse, hit and run, reckless driving with endangerment, child neglect with serious bodily injury, possession of methamphetamine, possession of Schedule II controlled substances with intent to see and deliver, trafficking in opium or heroin, aggravated possession of cocaine, possession of cocaine with intent to see and deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia. These charges stem from incidents that resulted in warrants in Rowan, Iredell and Forsyth counties.

Additionally, as a result of the chase, Smith is charged with two counts of evading arrest, two counts of possession of a stolen vehicle, failure to use lights or siren, speeding, reckless driving, driving while license revoked, driving with a false license plate and failure to wear a seat belt.

A Rowan County judge denied Smith bail due to a pretrial release violation, and he was remanded to the Rowan County Detention Center. Salisbury police noted that no young children were in the vehicle with Smith during the chase, which reached speeds of 130 mph in a 65 mph zone.

“The Salisbury Police Department commends the efforts of all officers and agencies involved in this operation for their professionalism and commitment to public safety,” Crews said in the statement.

Anyone with additional information regarding these cases or the suspect is asked to contact Sergeant McElveen of the Salisbury Police Department at 704-216-2710.