Terry Smith told detectives that he wasn't provoked when he started shooting at a black SUV on May 22. According to court documents, the 19-year-old told police that he was shooting at the SUV due to a dispute over a stolen gun.
Cortez Williams was found slumped over the wheel of a green Honda Passport at 4828 East 40th Terrace around 8:27 p.m.
He was rushed to a hospital where he later died. Just hours before the homicide, Williams had graduated from Paseo Academy.
A witness in the black SUV told police that he pulled up next to a vehicle parked in the 4900 block of East 40th Terrace. Before he could talk to the driver, Smith, who was sitting in the other vehicle's passenger seat, pulled out a gun and opened fire.
The SUV driver sped off, and his rear passenger shot back at the vehicle that Smith was in.
Smith told police that he fired numerous shots at the rear window of the SUV to scare away the black SUV. Smith said he kept shooting even as a second vehicle, the Passport driven by Williams, passed by his line of fire. Smith said he and the driver of the vehicle fled the shooting scene not knowing that he'd shot anyone.
According to court records, Smith told detectives that he believed he was responsible for Williams' death.
Smith is charged with second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon and armed criminal action. Prosecutors requested a $500,000 bond.
