Polk County Triple Homicide Suspect, Jamaal Smith, Captured in Miami by US Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force

“I can’t say enough good things about the US Marshals Task Force, Miami Police Department, Miami-Dade Police Department, and our own team of homicide detectives. Working as a united team and working around the clock, they arrested our third suspect in the brutal execution slayings of three Polk County citizens. I am so proud of all these law enforcement professionals. Because of them, Jamaal Smith will be held accountable for his cowardly and evil acts.” -Grady Judd, Sheriff

25-year-old Jamaal Smith, the third suspect in the January 6, 2016, triple homicide which occurred on East Magnolia Street in Lakeland, has beenarrested in Miami.  Smith was arrested during the evening hours of Thursday, February 11, 2016. He is charged with three counts of First Degree Murder, Attempted First Degree Murder, Armed Robbery, Armed Burglary with a Battery, Conspiracy to Commit First Degree Murder, Conspiracy to Commit Armed Robbery, and Tampering with Physical Evidence in a Capital Proceeding.  Smith’s criminal arrest history includes one previous felony arrest, seven misdemeanor arrest charges, two unknown level charges, and one failure to appear.

According to the US Marshals’ FRFTF, at approximately 11:00 pm, on Thursday, February 11, 2016, members of the U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force in Miami, task force detectives from the City of Miami Police Department, a Polk County Sheriff’s detective, and task force detectives and uniformed officers from the City of North Miami Police Department, located Smith at an apartment building located at 13155 NE 6^th Avenue in North Miami.

Through their Miami investigation, FRFTF investigators learned Smith was in the company of two other people, one of which was aiding him.  These two suspects were also arrested.  They are:

24-year-old Tobias Mack, 13155 NE 6^th Avenue, North Miami.  Mack had an outstanding narcotics warrant and was taken into custody without incident.

23-year-old Dorothy Collier, 13155 6^th Avenue, #5, North Miami.  Collier is Smith’s girlfriend.  Collier was charged with Accessory after the Fact to First Degree Murder.

The triple murder and attempted murder occurred at approximately 6:45 am on Wednesday, January 06, 2016.  The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Communications Center received a call advising there had been a shooting at the East Magnolia Drive residence, and when patrol deputies arrived they located three deceased victims; one Hispanic female, one white female, and one black male.  A fourth victim, a Hispanic male who had been shot in the face, was transported to an area hospital.

18-year-old Felix Campos was the sole survivor of the attack.  The murder victims were identified as 24-year-old David Washington, 31-year-old Eneida Branch, and 23-year-old Angelica Guadalupe Castro.

The investigation is ongoing.