Memphis man Christopher Smith, who allegedly shot at police officers during a 12-hour standoff, has been released on his own recognizance, according to Action News 5. Shelby County Judge Bill Anderson granted the release without bond, despite Smith facing severe charges including three counts of attempted first-degree murder. Arrested after the standoff on Lakeview Road, where Smith’s mother informed law enforcement of her son's armed mental breakdown, the suspect is a military veteran.
The incident began on the evening of November 10, when Smith reportedly confronted officers, asking "if they wanted to die" before firing a shot and evading capture, as per an arrest affidavit. Eventually barricading himself in his vehicle, a Memphis Police Department (MPD) robot, valued at $60,000, was destroyed by Smith during the standoff, the details of which were described in a report by FOX13 Memphis. Upon release, one of the conditions imposed is that Smith undergoes a mental evaluation at a veterans hospital.
Dismayed by Judge Anderson's decision, Tennessee Senator Brent Taylor reached out to Shelby County District Attorney Steve Mulroy to overturn the ROR decision, labeling it "yet another injustice." According to a report by Action News 5, Senator Taylor was vocal about Judge Anderson's "blatant disregard for the law" that mandates community safety as a primary consideration in setting bail.
Reinforcing the opposing stance, the Shelby County District Attorney's Office filed an emergency order seeking to reconsider Smith’s release. "We opposed the defendant’s release on his own recognizance. We asked that the $200,000 bond, I believe, stay in effect and, as a matter of fact, will be appealing that decision by filing a risk in criminal court," Mulroy told WREG. Smith is scheduled for a court appearance on December 3 for a mental evaluation.
This recent release by Judge Anderson is not an isolated event; past rulings include ROR for individuals accused of other serious felonies, such as shootings at both the FedEx World Hub and Railgarten.
