A Louisiana woman has pleaded guilty after a deadly police chase connected to a shoplifting incident ended in a crash that killed two teenage girls and seriously injured another victim.
The tragic case shocked the New Orleans area and devastated families connected to the victims, who were high school students with promising futures ahead of them.
Louisiana Woman Pleads Guilty in Deadly Crash Case
Authorities identified the accused as Joneaka Smooth, 32.
Smooth pleaded guilty on May 8 to several serious charges connected to a deadly crash that happened after a police pursuit in December 2024.
According to the Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office, Smooth pleaded guilty to:
- Two counts of manslaughter
- One count of attempted manslaughter
- One count of obstruction of justice
The plea happened just days before jury selection was scheduled to begin in the case.
Two Teen Girls Lost Their Lives
The victims were identified as Semaj Morris and Giselle Smith, both 17-year-old students at West Jefferson High School.
Authorities said the girls were passengers in a vehicle that was violently struck during the crash.
According to prosecutors, the impact was so severe that the roof of the victims’ vehicle was torn off from the windshield toward the rear of the car.
Giselle Smith died at the scene, while Semaj Morris later died from her injuries the following day.
A third victim, identified as Smith’s older sister, survived but suffered critical injuries.
Crash Happened During High-Speed Police Chase
Investigators said the deadly incident began after Smooth and two other women allegedly stole large amounts of clothing from stores at Lakeside Shopping Center in Metairie.
Authorities claimed the group stole merchandise from several stores, including Gap Kids, with the intention of reselling the items for profit.
An off-duty Orleans Parish Sheriff’s deputy reportedly spotted the women fleeing through the parking lot and alerted law enforcement officers.
Police said Smooth then led deputies on a high-speed chase along Interstate 10 toward New Orleans.
SUV Went Airborne Before Crashing Into Victims
According to investigators, deputies eventually ended the chase after losing sight of the SUV near the parish line.
However, prosecutors said Smooth continued driving at extremely high speeds and aggressively weaving through traffic.
When she exited the interstate near St. Bernard Avenue, authorities said she lost control while attempting a turn.
The SUV reportedly mounted the median, became airborne, and slammed into the victims’ vehicle.
The crash caused catastrophic injuries and massive destruction.
Suspects Allegedly Fled the Scene
After the crash, prosecutors said all three suspects ran away from the scene on foot.
Smooth later surrendered to authorities the following day.
The two other women involved, Lisa Herring and Sherry Foucha, also face theft-related charges in Jefferson Parish connected to the shoplifting incident.
Possible Life Sentence Ahead
Judge Tracey Flemings-Davillier is expected to sentence Smooth on June 9.
Each manslaughter conviction carries a possible sentence of up to 40 years in prison.
According to prosecutors, Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams is also seeking enhanced penalties because of Smooth’s criminal history.
That enhancement could potentially result in a life sentence.
