By Ray King
Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth on Wednesday found probable cause to charge KeShone Quantarious Smith with capital murder in the Monday shooting death of Pine Bluff Police Detective Kevin Collins.
During a brief court hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Jill Reed said Detectives including Collins went to the Econo Lodge on North Blake Street in an attempt to locate and arrest Smith, who had active felony warrants.
“He (Smith) fired his weapon at the officers and they fired back,” Reed said. “one of the officers (Detective Lt. Ralph Issac) was treated at the hospital and released. Officer Collins was struck by gunfire and died at the hospital.”
Despite being warned that anything he said could be used against him because he did not have an attorney present, Smith said he wanted to make a statement and Bridgforth told him he could.
In his statement, Smith said “there were three witnesses. Subpoena them to court.”
Smith was being sought on warrants charging him with murder in Georgia.
He will be held without bond and said he would hire his own attorney.
