Ripley Alderman Released on Bond, Community in Shock

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - A Tippah County Alderman charged with capital murder is dealing with more than fighting to keep his freedom. Lonnie Smith lost both of his hands at work and it only seemed to get worse from there.

Last week, he was charged with an April murder, but those who know Smith said he doesn't deserve any of this bad luck.

Tippah County Mississippi authorities couldn't have asked their first homicide of the year to be filled with stranger circumstances. Instead they were handed a murder, a terrible accident and a chief suspect who is also a very popular elected official with a previously spotless record.

Chinese philosopher Confucius once warned in a proverb "before a man seeks revenge he should be prepared to dig two graves." Despite being tight-lipped about a possible motive, Tippah County Sheriff's investigators allege Ripley Alderman, Lonnie Smith, has dug himself a hole in being charged with capital murder as the chief suspect in an April shooting death.

"Several different variables that led to make Mr. Smith a suspect," said Chris McCallister, Tippah Co. Sheriff's investigator.

"I was like, no, not Lonnie. I couldn't believe it. I was shocked. I was devastated," said Samantha Prager, an acquaintance of Lonnie Smith.

The 46-year old Smith, serving his first term as Ward 3 Alderman, was arraigned in Tippah County Circuit Court on Monday after being arrested last week in the shooting death of Antrozon Wallace. The April 19th discovery of Wallace's body, in a ditch just off Tippah County Road 565 near an industrial park began with a simple service call.

"We received a call about a possible vehicle accident. One of the patrol deputies responded. Once he got to the scene he determined that it was no vehicle accident. In fact it had been a shooting," said McCallister. "We had talked to him actually the same day we found Mr. Wallace and it just kind of progressed from there."

But, 10 days after Wallace's body was found, a bizarre twist of fate befouled Smith, a veteran lineman for the Tippah County Electric Power Association, while on the job in nearby Walnut, Mississippi.

"He was working up at Walnut, something to do with putting up a pole on power lines and sometime during the course of that, he ended up getting electrocuted," said McCallister. "Ended up losing his arms-they had to amputate both his arms."

However, Smith's accident didn't deter investigators from continuing their four month investigation. A source familiar with the case said a cigarette butt found at the scene along with other DNA evidence allegedly tied Smith to the crime.

With Smith now free after posting $75,000 dollars bond, supporters of his innocence believe the perpetrator couldn't be the man they've known for years.

"He doesn't seem like that type of person. I been knowing Lonnie all my life and to me, around here, that's nothing he would do. I don't think. That's my opinion," said Prager.

"I've got speculations. But, I'm not really prepared to release my speculations right now," said Prager.

Smith awaits a possible grand jury indictment which could come in October.