Rocky Mount Man Sentenced to 87 Months for Role in Drive-By Shooting

WILMINGTON, N.C. -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, July 8, 2021Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office Eastern District of North Carolina 

 Rocky Mount Man Sentenced to 87 Months for Role in Drive-By Shooting

WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Rocky Mount man was sentenced to 87 months in prison for possessing multiple firearms despite being a previously convicted felon.  Keyonte Da’quan Smith, also known as “Smiley,” entered his guilty plea on March 3, 2021.

According to court documents and other information presented in court, Smith, 27, of Rocky Mount, and another unidentified subject, were observed operating a sedan and shooting multiple rounds of ammunition into another vehicle while in traffic. The victim’s vehicle side door, front panel, and windshield sustained damage from the gunfire, but the victim survived. Officers located at least eight .45 caliber shell casings from the crime scene. Police tracked Smith to a nearby apartment, where he was found with 2 ski masks, two loaded .45 caliber handguns, including one that had been reported stolen, a loaded .40 caliber handgun, a large-capacity magazine, and multiple rounds of ammunition.

G. Norman Acker, III, Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Rocky Mount Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Aakash Singh prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 5:20-CR-458-M.
Topic(s): 
Project Safe Neighborhoods
Component(s): 
USAO - North Carolina, Eastern
Updated July 8, 2021