Man fired at Warner Robins cops during hours-long standoff. He gets prison time
A man who repeatedly shot at police during a several-hours-long standoff in Warner Robins was convicted of assaulting peace officers Wednesday, and will serve decades in prison.
Renaldo Rashad Smith, 34, was found guilty by a jury Wednesday on 12 counts of aggravated assault on a peace officer, the Houston County District Attorney’s office said in a news release.
Prosecutors say the offenses happened in January 2023. Smith had evaded arrest on an active warrant for approximately two years at this time, until he was found by the Warner Robins Police Department and U.S. Marshals on Somerset Drive.
Officers responded to a home on that street to try to arrest him, only for Smith to barricade himself inside and shoot at law enforcement, prosecutors said.
A WRPD SWAT Team and a WRPD Hostage Negotiation Team tried to get Smith to come out during a six-hour long standoff, the district attorney’s office said.
“After six hours of negotiations, two gas canisters were deployed into the home,” the district attorney’s office said. Smith began shooting again.
Smith approached the door of the home and fired again at officers, according to prosecutors. Some gunfire hit a police vehicle and neighboring homes.
Smith was eventually shot in the arm by officers and was taken to a local hospital, according to the district attorney’s office.
After being convicted, Smith was sentenced to 60 total years in prison, prosecutors said.
“This defendant made a choice to escalate a peaceful attempt at arrest into an hours-long standoff that put lives at risk—including his own,” said Houston County District Attorney Eric Edwards. “Thanks to the professionalism and restraint of law enforcement, no officers—or innocent neighbors—were harmed.
“We will always stand with the men and women who protect this community and send a clear message: if you open fire on police, you will be held accountable.”