Man who shot girlfriend, drove to Coachella Valley pleads guilty
A San Bernardino man who shot his girlfriend, who was found in his car along with their uninjured but blood-covered baby when he was pulled over in Cathedral City, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and other charges today.
Willie Roy Smith III, 27, shot his girlfriend in San Bernardino on May 7, 2016, then drove her into the Coachella Valley while she bled in his backseat. Their 3-month old child was secured in a car seat and covered in the woman’s blood, but was otherwise unharmed, Cathedral City Lt. Glen Haas said.
California Highway Patrol officers responded about 4 p.m. on May 7 to reports of a reckless driver on eastbound Interstate 10, near Date Palm Drive in Cathedral City, Haas said.
Officers who stopped the vehicle found Smith behind the wheel and his bleeding girlfriend lying on the car’s rear passenger floorboard, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, Haas said.
The woman, identified only as Jane Doe in court documents, was taken to Desert Regional Medical Center. Within the month, she was well enough to speak with police and provide them with sufficient information that placed the shooting location in San Bernardino, Haas said.
Smith was arrested and a handgun was found inside the car.
He pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to attempted murder, dissuading a witness, violating a court-ordered domestic violence protective order and drunk driving.
Smith is slated to be sentenced on April 27.
Download the KESQ & CBS Local 2 app on iTunes or Google Play for up-to-the-minute breaking news alerts & more
More: I-Team and Stands for You investigations
Find us on Facebook: KESQ News Channel 3 & CBS Local 2
Follow us on Twitter for breaking news updates: @KESQ & @Local2
We’re on Instagram! @KESQ_News_Channel_3 & @CBSLocal2
Noticias en español: Telemundo 15
