A 20-year-old Tacoma man is facing serious felonies after a Lakewood drive-by shooting on Feb. 5 left a local rapper with a grazing wound to the head near 100th Street Southwest and South Tacoma Way. Court records say surveillance footage of the ambush helped investigators zero in on a suspect vehicle, and Kendrick Bernard Smith is now charged with attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault after a bench warrant led to his arrest and booking into Pierce County Jail.
What charging papers say
According to The News Tribune, charging documents state that a Lakewood officer heard a burst of rapid gunfire around 4:20 p.m. on Feb. 5 and soon afterward found a car with smashed-out windows in a nearby gas station parking lot. Investigators collected 14 shell casings at the scene and reported that surveillance video shows a gray BMW X3 pull in behind the victim's vehicle, someone firing multiple rounds, and the SUV speeding off while its license plate stays visible on camera.
The victim drove over a raised center curb to get away and later learned he had only a grazing wound to the back of his head, the documents say, according to The News Tribune.
A witness who was inside the BMW told detectives that the passenger, identified in court papers as Kendrick Bernard Smith and also known as "Hellcat," fired an automatic-style handgun into the victim's car, according to Yahoo News. The witness reported that Smith recognized the driver as a rival gang member and later said, "I couldn't help myself." Court records cited in Yahoo News show Smith was convicted in July 2024 of reckless driving and reckless endangerment in Pierce County. Authorities say the BMW left the scene at high speed after the shooting.
Arraignment and charges
Prosecutors filed charges against Smith on Feb. 6 for attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault, and a bench warrant was issued before his arrest, court documents show, as reported by The News Tribune. At his arraignment, Pierce County Superior Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille set bail at $500,000 and a not guilty plea was entered on Smith's behalf. Records indicate he was booked into the Pierce County Jail after being arrested Tuesday morning.
Local context and safety concerns
Investigators told reporters that the victim had posted a music video on Jan. 21 that apparently disrespected a Hilltop-area crew, which detectives say may have provided a motive for the shooting, according to Yahoo News. Charging papers state the driver felt a burning sensation on the back of his head after the shots rang out and then drove to safety, and detectives recovered evidence at the scene. Police continue to review surveillance footage and witness accounts in an effort to determine who else might have been involved.
Smith remains in custody on $500,000 bail while the Pierce County prosecutor's office prepares its case. Officials are asking anyone with information about the shooting to contact Lakewood police so investigators can follow up.
