A Pennsylvania man, Christian Smith, 28, was sentenced to 65 years in prison for the fatal shooting of his stepfather, Dennis McKenzie, Jr., 43. A jury found Smith guilty of first-degree murder in January over the October 2021 killing. He will be eligible for parole after serving at least 85% of his sentence.
The Shooting Incident
The tragic event happened on October 9, 2021, at the family home in Woolwich, a township in the Philadelphia metro area. Smith was visiting relatives in New Jersey at the time and got into an argument with his stepfather over his sister’s LGBTQ houseguest.
Prosecutors said the conflict began after Smith made offensive comments about the guest’s sexuality. His mother and sister tried to intervene, but Smith continued using anti-LGBTQ slurs.
When the stepfather threw a punch, Smith pulled out a Glock 19 9mm handgun and shot McKenzie four times – once in the face and three times in the back.
Defendant’s Actions After Shooting
After the shooting, Smith disassembled the gun and recorded himself saying, “That’s what he gets.” During the trial, the defense claimed the shots were fired accidentally during a struggle, but prosecutors argued the evidence contradicted this account, noting the deliberate nature of multiple shots fired.
Trial and Verdict
Jurors sided with the prosecution, rejecting Smith’s claim of accidental shooting. First Assistant Prosecutor Dana Anton emphasized that firing three shots over a person cannot be accidental. Prosecutor Andrew B.
Johns stated the sentence reflects the severity of Smith’s violent actions and ensures accountability for taking a life.
