Smitty B. Sneed, aged 58, tragically lost his life on April 22, 1973, in Los Angeles, California. His death was part of a horrific shooting spree carried out by William Ray Bonner, a 25-year-old former service station attendant. The spree began after Bonner had an argument with a family friend, Otha Leavitt, at his home. Enraged, Bonner shot Leavitt and then embarked on a violent rampage across the South Side area of Los Angeles.
Bonner's rampage included multiple locations and victims.
After killing Leavitt, he shot two teenagers outside his home, severely wounding them. He then drove to a gas station where he had previously worked and shot two sisters, killing one and critically wounding the other. Bonner continued his spree by killing his former colleague, Raleigh Henderson, at another gas station. He then proceeded to the home of Jevie Thompson, killing Thompson and wounding his family members.
Smitty B. Sneed was one of the unfortunate victims during this spree. Bonner arrived at Sneed's liquor store, Smitty's Drive-In Liquors, and shot Sneed in the stomach, resulting in his death. Bonner also wounded a customer at the store before moving on to other locations where he continued his violent acts.
The aftermath of this tragic event saw Bonner being apprehended by the police after a shootout. He was subsequently charged with multiple counts of murder and assault. On November 13, 1973, Bonner pleaded guilty to one count each of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and assault with a deadly weapon. A month later, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Bonner's actions on that fateful day left a lasting impact on the community, with seven people dead and nine others wounded.
The case of Smitty B. Sneed's death is a stark reminder of the devastating effects of senseless violence and the importance of addressing underlying issues that can lead to such tragedies.
