Cause Of Death Of Appalachian Trail Shooting Suspect Is Unknown
The man accused of shooting two people on the Appalachian trail in Giles Co. died Saturday afternoon. Deputies found Randal Smith unresponsive in his cell.
The man accused of shooting two people on the Appalachian trail in Giles Co. died Saturday afternoon. Deputies found Randal Smith unresponsive in his cell.
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WSLS News Staff
Published: May 12, 2008
Updated: Monday 9:46 a.m.
This is the most recent mugshot for Randall Smith.
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Updated: Sunday 9:12 p.m.
The cause of death is still unknown Sunday night for Randall Smith.
Smith had just been placed back into police custody on Friday after being released from Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Deputies spoke to him the night before he died. Ron Hamlin, a Giles County Investigator says, “Mr. Smith was very, very bitter about the process that had been dealt to him as he said, and he no longer wanted to live.” “He said he was ready for death.”
Investigators say Smith was the only person in the cell at the time. There is no evidence he did anything to take his own life.
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Updated: Saturday 9:30 p.m.
Giles County Sheriff’s Office says that Randall Smith died Saturday afternoon. Deputies found him unresponsive in his cell around 5:00 p.m. He was pronounced dead at the hospital two hours later.
The Medical Examiner’s office in Roanoke will preform an autopsy.
Deputies say they do not know what caused Smith’s death. They say there were no signs of obvious self-inflicted suicide. Deputies say when they spoke to him yesterday, Smith said he didn’t want to live anymore and had given up on life.
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The man accused of shooting two people on the Appalachian trail in Giles Co. is released from the hospital.
54-year-old Randall Smith was released from Roanoke Memorial Friday night.
He was then taken to the Magistrate’s Office where he was served with warrants.
Officials say he was coherent and understood what was happening.
Smith was then released to the Giles Co. Sheriff’s Department and taken back there.
Scott Johnston, one of the shooting victims is still in the hospital.
We check late Friday night and he is still listed in good condition.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( Monica ) on May 12, 2008 at 11:17 am
You know, I think what Randall did was horrible, and what he was accused of this time around, was equally horrible. But, we have to think about it in another perspective. He was a lost soul, no friends, no family that he kept in touch with; the poor man had no one. Think about it as if he were your family. How would you feel if it was your son that people were saying such horrible things about. Indeed, I am grateful for his death- for the mere fact that he is not suffering anymore. Imagine the amount of suffering and misery you would have to have within you to commit such horrible acts! I am glad that he did not have to endure anymore what no one knew he had endured for years. I am the mother of 3 children, and yes I would do anything to protect them. i’m not saying he is not to blame for what happened; if he had lived, he would have gotten the punishment he deserved. But, he is not alive now; let his dead soul rest.
Posted by ( murphy ) on May 12, 2008 at 8:32 am
We as a nation have become numbed to the disparity and inequity in our criminal justice sentencing guidelines. Truly and really, WHY was someone who cold-bloodedly killed 2 people released after 14 years??!!?? There are people serving longer terms for theft. Indeed,good riddance to Smith but there are many more out there like him. Why do we put up with such a rigged and inconsistent criminal justice system in this country?
Posted by ( egclimb3 ) on May 10, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Thanks Randal, you saved the citizens of Virginia a ton of money that would have been wasted housing and feeding an inhuman individual. May your soul burn forever!