A man who shot himself at the end of a “violent high-speed pursuit” in the Inland Empire was sentenced to 26 years in federal prison, the United States Department of Justice said Monday.
Samuel Sven Smith, a 28-year-old from Phoenix, will also have to pay nearly $8,900 in restitution, the DOJ said in a news release.
Smith pleaded guilty in May 2023 to two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and two counts of brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence in connection with the spree of robberies.
From July 31, 2022, to Aug. 20, 2022, Smith armed himself with a gun and robbed stores like Big Lots and PetSmart in Riverside, Signal Hill, Orange, San Bernardino, Fontana, Pico Rivera, Redlands, Rancho Cucamonga and Phoenix.
The final robbery was in Rancho Cucamonga on Aug. 20, when Smith left a PetSmart with $400 only to be “met by law enforcement, which included federal officers,” the DOJ release said.
Smith opened fire, then got into his vehicle and fled while firing at the pursuing officers before his car was rammed by authorities.
“When law enforcement approached Smith’s car, they determined he had suffered a gunshot wound underneath his chin,” the release said, citing court documents. “Smith told officers who were performing life saving measures, that when they rammed into his vehicle, he accidentally shot himself.”
U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in the release that he and his office refuse to “accept such blatant violence on our streets.”
“Smith showed complete disregard for the safety of others when he went on his crime spree, threatening store employee with firearms and then opening fire on federal agents,” Estrada added.
Jail records indicate Smith is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles.
