Mich. Sen. Accused Of Shooting At His Ex-Wife’s Car While Naked

FILE -- In this April 9, 2012 file photo, Sen. Virgil Smith, D-Detroit, is shown during a bill signing ceremony at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit. Smith, whose family is well-known in Detroit politics, was... FILE -- In this April 9, 2012 file photo, Sen. Virgil Smith, D-Detroit, is shown during a bill signing ceremony at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit. Smith, whose family is well-known in Detroit politics, was arrested in connection with a shooting at his home involving a girlfriend and her car, police said Monday, May 11, 2015.(AP Photo/Carlos Osorio) MORE LESS
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Michigan state Sen. Virgil Smith (D) reportedly shot at his ex-wife’s car while naked early Sunday morning, according to a police report obtained on Monday by the Detroit News.

According to the police report, Smith was arrested on Sunday for assault with intent to commit murder and aggravated assault, but the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office asked the police to investigate the incident further before deciding on charges. Police Chief James Craig said he expected charges of aggravated assault with a gun and destruction of property against Smith, according to the Detroit News.

Smith told police that his ex-wife began banging on the windows of his house around 1 a.m. on Sunday. He said that when he opened the door, she “kicked the door open and pushed (past) him,” according to the police report.

Smith said that when his ex-wife saw that his girlfriend was in his bed, his ex-wife tried to attack his girlfriend. Smith said he then grabbed his ex-wife and the two knocked over the television before his ex-wife attempted to attack his girlfriend again.

Smith told police that after he forced his ex-wife out of his house, he saw her throwing a chair at the windows.

He said he then “did the most stupid thing in his life, he shot (the ex-wife’s) vehicle,” according to the police report.

Police obtained Smith’s ex-wife’s account of the incident in a second police report.

Smith’s ex-wife told police that she was invited to stay at Smith’s house and when she arrived, she saw Smith naked with a girlfriend. Smith’s ex-wife “became angry and upset, and both started verbally arguing,” according to the police report.

She said that “at some point during the argument (Smith) grabbed her by the back of her head and shoved her face first into the carpet,” according to the police report. Smith’s ex-wife told police that Smith then struck her several times in the face.

She told police that when she ran out of the front door, Smith chased her with “an (unknown) type long gun and followed behind. She observed muzzle flash (three times) as suspect began firing at her,” according to the police report.

Investigators found several suspected bullet holes in Smith’s ex-wife vehicle, according to the Detroit News. Police said they found a rifle in Smith’s home following the incident. Police said it was an automatic weapon, but the Detroit News could not confirm the type of gun.

It’s not yet clear whether Smith will be punished by the state senate following the incident.

“As details of the situation become clearer, we will take appropriate action,” Angela Wittrock, a spokeswoman for the Senate Democratic caucus, told the Detroit News.

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Notable Replies

  1. Investigators found several suspected bullet holes in Smith’s ex-wife vehicle, according to the Detroit News.

    Given the ancillary information, what else would have created these holes, “suspected” to be bullet holes? Unless, perhaps the car was coincidentally being used as habitat by a new species of sheet-metal boring beetle.

  2. Why in gawd’s name would you allow your ex to stay with you? Especially when your girlfriend is there?
    Gee, an argument developed, so you do something STUPID (I mean besides allowing your ex to stay) and shoot her car? Naked or not, why ?

  3. Because guns…why not?

  4. Hope springs eternal. Let me explain: “Well, what I mean is, you’re both here…I’m here…eh?..EH???” [Insert wah pedal music here]

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