Maryland man convicted of shooting and stabbing Prince George's Co. police officer's son

Last week, a jury found Kenneth Smith, 54, of Fort Washington, guilty of several counts, including the first-degree murder of 30-year-old Desmond Thomas. Thomas was the son of Det. Donnell Thomas.

Prosecutors said the two had an argument and misunderstanding and called what happened last October “senseless.”

Assistant State's Attorney Bill Porter said Thomas and another person, who survived the shooting, were just playing basketball, when Smith said something to the two because he thought Thomas and the other person was with his 14 year old daughter. But Porter said they didn't know each other.

Afterward, Porter said Smith and his stepson ambushed the two 30-year-old men.

“The tragedy is that the basketball court was right next to the swing set,” where Smith’s daughters played, Porter added.

Porter said Smith began cursing and accusing the men of being at the park with the girls, while the two men kept saying they didn't know the girls and were just there to playing basketball.

That's when Smith's stepson started shooting, prosecutors said.

Authorities say that after Smith's stepson, Lamont Scott, shot Thomas and the other man, Smith then stabbed Thomas multiple times.

Prince George's County Attorney Aisha Braveboy said Smith testified in his own defense during the trial, but said prosecutors began catching him in a series of lies as they investigated his defense arguments, making it impossible for the jury to believe him.

She said they also played a recorded phone call from prison, during which Smith bragged about destroying evidence.

“Life is so precious,” Braveboy said. “Your first instinct should not only be to accuse people, but also to be armed. And then use these weapons against two people you don't know. If everyone says, “Look, we don't know them,” then you should accept that as fact.

Thomas is the father of a 6 year old boy.

“My oldest son, Desmond, was taken from me in a completely senseless, tragic and preventable act of violence,” said Donnell Thomas. “This should never have happened.”

Donnell Thomas said Desmond would live on thanks to his son.

“Our family is strong and we will heal,” Donnell Thomas said.

Scott, Smith's stepson, is scheduled to stand trial for his role in Thomas' death later this summer.

Get the latest news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2024 WTOP. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located in the European Economic Area.