Emotions run high after teen’s court hearing on murder charge

Michael Smith Jr., 17, will be tried as an adult in the shooting death of 19-year-old Shon Walker in Hamilton. Smith is pictured here in August during a hearing in a Butler Count juvenile courtroom. NICK GRAHAM/FILE

Michael Smith Jr., 17, will be tried as an adult in the shooting death of 19-year-old Shon Walker in Hamilton. Smith is pictured here in August during a hearing in a Butler Count juvenile courtroom. NICK GRAHAM/FILE

Butler County deputies were called to separate families outside a Butler County courtroom Monday morning following a hearing for a Hamilton teen charged with the shooting death of a 19-year-old in June.

Michael Smith Jr., 17, who is being tried as an adult, was indicted last month by a county grand jury for murder and tampering with evidence for allegedly shooting Shon Walker to death.

MORE: Records: Teen charged in Hamilton murder has been incarcerated 3 times before

Walker, 19, was shot point-blank just after 9 p.m. on June 27 in the 400 block of East Avenue. Hamilton police say the teen had a firearm and shot Walker several times then concealed the weapon in his clothing and put it in a sewer in the area of 604 High Street.

The incident was caught on video, and a witness identified the teen as the “shooter,” according to court documents.

Because of the seriousness of the crime and Smith’s age, the case was a mandatory bind-over to adult court if probable cause was found by county Juvenile Court Judge Ronald Craft. That happened in August after Smith waived his right to a probable cause hearing.

At that time Craft also ordered Smith be moved from the county Juvenile Detention Center to the Butler County Jail because “there is great concern about his conduct while at JDC.”

Smith was arrested July 11, and the judge said that during his time at the detention centerthe teen has been involved in a fight and making inappropriate comments to staff.

MORE: Probable cause hearing set for teen charged with Hamilton homicide

During Monday’s brief pre-trial hearing before Common Pleas Judge Greg Stephens, Smith told the judge he would waive is right to a speedy trial so that court-appointed attorney Chris Frederick can prepare for trial. His bond is set at $2 million. He is scheduled to be back in court Oct. 21.

Both Smith and Walker’s families left the courtroom at the same time and screaming, and some name-calling erupted with deputies being called to the third floor of the Butler County Government Services Center.

“Your son is a murder,” one woman yelled as Smith’s family also yelled stinging words.

Documents filed by the prosecution on Oct. 2 include more than 30 pieces of evidence, according to court documents.

MORE: Teen charged with shooting death of 19-year-old in Hamilton

Evidence includes 18 videos from various residences and businesses, five search warrants, photos of recovered firearms and clothing, and audio recording of the defendant’s statement.

Smith was incarcerated in the Juvenile Detention Center three times previously, according to juvenile court records.

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