Malia Riggs
Elmore/Autauga News
A press conference was held Tuesday morning at the 600 block of Covered Bridge Parkway where 16-year-old Kylen Smith was fatally shot last August in broad daylight around 2 p.m.
The investigation is ongoing, and a witness said they saw a male dressed in all black, wearing a black hoodie leaving the scene. Evidence has led investigators to believe that the suspect fled was on-foot at the time of the shooting.
Investigators also believe that this was not a random killing, and that Smith knew or associated with the shooter. Originally, it was announced that a $3,000 reward is offered by Central Alabama CrimeStoppers for any information that leads to an arrest in this case. However, Prattville Mayor Bill Gillespie and his family have also offered an additional $1,000 reward as of this afternoon.
If anyone has any information related to the case, they are encouraged to call the Prattville Police Department at 334-595-0208 or the Criminal Investigative Division at 334-595-0250.
If anyone has any information but wishes to remain anonymous, they can call Crime Stoppers at 334-215-7867 or download the free P3 Tips Mobile app to share any information anonymously. If that information has merit and leads to the capture of a suspect, payment will be made to the anonymous caller within 30 days.
CrimeStoppers Executive Director Tony Garrett said, “We ask that anyone that witnessed this crime or knows anything about this crime to call law enforcement. If you are in a position where you cannot get in contact with the police for numerous reasons, you can call CrimeStoppers at 215-STOP.”
“This (victim) is not a young man with a juvenile record. This is not a young man with gang affiliation. This is a young man who is gone, gone way too soon, and it should hurt us. It should hurt all of us that this happened in our community in broad daylight, right here,” District Attorney C.J Robinson said.
Smith’s family was in attendance at the press conference, where their grief and pain were clearly evident. One held a photo of Kylen as the press conference was held.
Prattville Police Chief Mark Thompson, and Sergeant Ariel Davis also spoke and pleaded with the public for anyone with information to come forward.
“We have already been through Thanksgiving, and we’re moving into the holiday season where this family will have an empty seat at their table. A son missing, a cousin, a brother who will not be there because his life was taken from us. The main thing that I’m asking is to help us take a killer off the street. You don’t know if that killer may leave another empty chair for someone this holiday season. The smallest thing that you think is insignificant could lead to the biggest break in the case,” District Attorney Robinson said.
He went on to say that at another table this holiday, a murderer may be in attendance. That person needs to be turned in before they can hurt someone else.
