By Carolyn Sackariason
Daily Press Staff Writer

VENICE — A makeshift shrine has been erected at the intersection where a carjacking suspect was fatally shot by Santa Monica police officers last week.

Jeffery Smith, 23, died from a gunshot wound to the head on Feb. 9 after several SMPD officers shot at him through a car he had stolen at gunpoint from an unidentified man in Santa Monica just 30 minutes earlier. Police contend Smith opened fire on SMPD officers with a shotgun in attempts to elude them.

The shrine was put up where Smith crashed a stolen car he was driving and was shot by police — on Santa Clara Avenue between Abbot Kinney Boulevard and Electric Avenue. Flowers, candles, a champagne glass and messages like “rest in peace” and “we’ll miss you” form a V-shaped memorial.

Smith was pronounced dead at the scene, which ended in the 400 block of Santa Clara Avenue in Venice after he led police on a short pursuit in the stolen Dodge Shadow. Smith eventually smashed the car into the side of a building.

The incident began at 4:39 a.m. at the corner of 10th Street and Michigan Avenue, where Smith originally stole the vehicle, police say. The victim, who was not injured, was driving behind a white van when it slowed and eventually stopped, according to SMPD Lt. Frank Fabrega. The victim told police he thought the driver of the van was having mechanical problems, so he stopped to help. That’s when Smith allegedly pointed a shotgun at the victim and stole his car.

SMPD officers began searching surrounding areas and 15 minutes later found Smith driving the stolen vehicle in Venice. While other SMPD officers were responding to the scene, two officers in one patrol car approached Smith, who stopped and exited the vehicle armed with a shotgun. He fired at the officers and got back in the car. After he crashed the car, Smith again exited the car armed, and officers opened fire on the suspect, Fabrega said. Smith then got back into the vehicle,

After a brief delay and police ordering him to surrender, Smith pointed the shotgun in the direction of officers, who then opened fire on him again. The gun was dropped and no movement was seen from Smith inside the car, Fabrega said.

The van Smith was driving before he stole the Dodge Shadow was reported stolen on Feb. 5 from a carjacking that occurred in Venice by a suspect described as a black man armed with a shotgun, Fabrega said.