In 1995, Smith and Diefen McGann were attempting to collect a debt from Willie Anderson II, each bringing a handgun with them. A scuffle broke out, with Anderson attempting to secure McGann's gun. Smith said he lunged toward Anderson with a knife, and Anderson let go of McGann's gun.
McGann then fired three shots at Anderson, killing him.
Both Smith and McGann were charged with first-degree murder, though McGann pleaded down to voluntary manslaughter and served five years in prison.
Smith's lawyer recommended he didn't take that plea deal since he wasn't the one who fired the shots, instead taking the case to trial, where Smith was convicted of second-degree murder and malicious wounding. Those convictions carried a prison sentence of 44 years.
If anyone is curious what his dad actually did. It does seem a giant lapse in justice that the actual murderer was out in 5 years while his dad was still behind bars another 25.