Defendant O’Shae Smith told Judge Lila Statom that the reason he shot at a rival gang member was because he was “in his hood.” The Tennessee judge then proceeded to put the gang member in his place.
“Sir, East Lake Courts is not your hood,” she told him. “It’s the citizens of the United States who own that because they work and pay taxes. You don’t own that. It used to be a very nice place to live in fact my grandmother lived there and I spent many a nights and it was a nice place where you could walk around. People like you have made it a violent, unsafe place to live and hopefully we can make it the place that it used to be back when it was originally built for people who didn’t have anywhere else to live, to make it a safe place to live.”
A report by WRCB states Smith, a shooting victim himself, shot Kendre Allen in late March.
“We believe that O’Shae Smith is an ongoing threat to our community and we are here to emphasize how important it is to us that this prosecution be taken seriously and that he not be allowed to threaten our community again,” said Chief Fred Fletcher.
Statom was mostly bothered by Smith’s expression as he stood in front of her in court, seeming to not care about the charges brought against him. Her irritation could be seen in the video when she shuts Smith down when he attempts to request to speak.
“I don’t think you want to say a word to me Mr. Smith,” she says.
Usually one to stay quiet in the courtroom, Statom said she has become frustrated with those who “are not working and are not contributing” disrupt the once peaceful community by corrupting it with crime and violence.
Statom hopes that she can encourage others to try and create change.
“I hope that I can give people that are coming to testify hope, that it does make a difference if you stand up.”
