Lubbock’s latest entry in the “How Did This Escalate So Fast?” files stars 51-year-old Sylas Smart, who was federally indicted this week for being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. That charge comes after what began as a dispute on Genoa Avenue and somehow snowballed into gunfire, a police chase, and multiple terrified bystanders.
According to police, Smart decided the best way to handle the situation was to march over to the home of an off-duty LPD officer and ring the doorbell repeatedly. When the officer arrived home—with his family in the car—Smart allegedly emerged from behind a tree like a discount horror-movie villain and opened fire. The officer responded by flooring it, crashing through a fence to get his family out alive. Totally normal evening stuff.
Smart then reportedly fled through backyards, climbed onto a roof, and fired at officers searching for him, because apparently rooftops are the new tactical high ground. He later kicked in the back door of another home and confronted a 17-year-old inside—just in case the night hadn’t already traumatized enough people.
Eventually, witnesses pointed officers in the right direction, and Smart was taken into custody without further incident. During the arrest, he dropped a handgun—an especially awkward moment for someone already prohibited from having one, hence the shiny new federal indictment.
At what point do we admit that “minor dispute” is doing an awful lot of heavy lifting in this town?
https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/felon-indicted-firearm-possession/