Pastor Who Fatally Shot Christian Footballer Whose Wife He Allegedly Impregnated Will Not Be Charged
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office in Michigan ruled Friday that there is not enough evidence to charge a Detroit pastor who shot dead semi-pro football player Deante Smith, 25, inside his church in October over allegations that he was sleeping with the footballer's wife.
On Sunday, Oct. ,18, Smith was fatally shot multiple times inside the City of God Church in Detroit, Michigan, by his former pastor, Keon Allison, 36, who he openly accused on social media of having an extramarital relationship with his wife, Tykia.
Since the shooting, very little details have been provided about what exactly happened inside the church. On Friday, the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office detailed the trajectory of the killing in a release to The Christian Post, which concluded that Pastor Allison acted in self-defense.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
"Mr. Allison's account regarding Mr. Smith's conduct at the time of the shooting support the decision not to charge because there is insufficient evidence to prove a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence shows that Mr. Allison had an honest and reasonable belief that he, or some other member of the congregation was at immediate risk of death or great bodily harm at the time he shot Mr. Smith," the statement concluded.
On the day of the shooting at about 1:40 p.m., according to the release, Smith and his estranged wife, also 25, arrived at the City of God Church located in the 22000 block of Grand River in Detroit. The footballer then encountered and confronted Allison in the rear hallway of the church. According to evidence presented by several witnesses, Smith forced his way into the church armed with a chunk of brick. He pushed the pastor's mother to the ground after he was told that he was no longer welcome at the church.
Witnesses placed themselves between Smith and Allison as two men restrained Smith to prevent him from attacking the pastor. The footballer was then taken into a side room where he verbally agreed to leave.
Immediately after agreeing to leave, however, Smith rushed past the two men restraining him toward Allison. The pastor then pulled out a hand gun and fired one shot at Smith striking him in the left shoulder, which caused him to stagger.
Smith continued to head towards Allison, who continued to fire his weapon. The footballer was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead from multiple gunshot wounds. Allison later gave a statement to the police attesting to what happened.
Prior to the shooting, however, the Prosecutor's Office also highlighted a pattern of threatening behavior from Smith toward Allison.
On Sept. 16, 2015, at approximately 9:00 a.m., he appeared at the pastor's home in Dearborn Heights and demanded his "tithes" back. He reportedly threatened the pastor and the pastor's wife.
Smith was detained by Dearborn Heights police during that encounter but he was ultimately released. On Sept. 17, 2015, at 2:30 a.m., Smith also sent Allison a number of threatening texts, one of which prompted the pastor, who was working overnight as a security guard, to contact Dearborn Heights police for a wellbeing check on his home, accord to the release.
On Sept. 19 and 20, 2015, Smith harassed Mr. Allison's mother by phone and she contacted the Van Buren Township police and filed a report. On Oct. 16, 2015, two days before his death, a security video shows Smith arriving at Allison's day job at an auto repair shop.
"He is clearly visible parking and exiting his vehicle, going to his truck, removing his coat and retrieving a baseball bat. As he entered through the shop's front entrance, Mr. Allison is visible exiting the side door, entering his van and backing out of the lot. Security cameras captured Mr. Smith running from the front of the shop towards Mr. Allison's van, swinging the bat and shattering a side window," said the press statement. Allison is further shown in the video trying to avoid Smith and fleeing.
"The alleged facts in this case were salacious to some because they happened in a place of worship and the person who discharged the weapon was a man of God. We closely and objectively examined the events that led to the killing of Deante Smith. The provable facts in this case showed that the actions of Keon Allison were done in lawful self-defense and there will be no charges," said Prosecutor Kym Worthy.
WATCH DEANTE SMITH TALK ABOUT HIS FAITH BELOW:
