PINE BLUFF, Ark. — Wednesday marked the third day of the State vs. Keshone Smith trial at the Jefferson County courthouse.
Smith is accused of shooting and killing Pine Bluff Detective Kevin Collins at an Econo Lodge motel on October 5, 2020.
As the third day of trial began on Wednesday morning, prosecutors presented three surveillance videos that were taken on the day Detective Collins was shot and killed.
Jeff Taylor who was working with Arkansas State Police at the time of the incident discovered that the Econo Lodge in Pine Bluff had surveillance video.
He retrieved the video on the DVR from motel management and secured it as evidence for the case.
In the first video that was shown in the trial, the jury saw the interaction between both Collins and Smith, as well as the other parties involved.
The video showed the entire incident that happened, including the gunfire. However, it did not have sound and was taken at a distance which required enhancements by the Arkansas State Police.
The second video showed that the incident had been de-escalated and other law enforcement officers began to arrive on the scene after they learned one of their officers had been involved in a shooting.
The final video that was shown to the jury showed the scene of the crime being taped off for investigations to begin.
Prosecutors at the trial also submitted two audio interviews between Smith and Arkansas State Police that were taken hours after the shooting.
According to the recordings, Smith was claiming self-defense saying the police shot first.
During his testimonial, Smith explained that on October 5 he went outside of the Econo Lodge to smoke a cigarette when two vehicles showed up.
He went on to say that Detective Collins told him to "freeze, put your hands up," He said a second police officer, Kelce Collins, then began shooting and Smith said that at that moment he "feared for his life."
During the trial, the defense argued that one of the interviews was conducted at Jefferson County Regional where Smith was being treated for a gunshot wound to his foot.
The defense explained how they felt Smith’s interview may have been coerced because he was being treated for a gunshot wound in one of the interviews.
The trial will continue at the Jefferson County Courthouse at 8:30 a.m. on April 18 where they will continue with more witness testimonies and will hopefully reach a verdict.