NEW ORLEANS — A police chase this week ended in tragedy this week, two innocent girls were killed after a car involved in a chase that started in Jefferson Parish crashed into them in Orleans Parish.
As the investigation continues and the alleged getaway driver faces serious charges, two families are hurting when they should be joyous this holiday season.
Two families are now grieving, their hearts torn apart. Two lives lost before they could start. Two homes will sit silent this Christmas, as two families mourn the loss of two innocent teenage girls, who were taken before they got the chance to show the world who they could become.
No parent ever plans for the day they have to say goodbye to their youngest child, but Benjamin Smith Sr. has had that unimaginable grief thrust upon him.
Smith said, "She was a daddy's girl, she was with me every time I came in, we had fun together, if she needed something she would say 'Daddy, come on, let's go.' Oh, I am going to miss my baby, I am going to miss her so much."
"I couldn't ask for a better daughter," he said.
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His 17-year-old daughter Gisselle Smith and her friend 17-year-old Semaj Morris were killed after authorities say a shoplifting pursuit in Jefferson Parish ended in New Orleans on Wednesday.
JPSO says around 7:30pm deputies were called to Lakeside Mall after a group of women were caught stealing. The office says an off-duty deputy saw them fleeing, so they notified on-duty deputies.
JPSO says the pursuit lasted less than a minute after the getaway SUV crossed into Orleans parish, and the chase was called off.
Smith said, "They shoplifted, they didn't rob a bank. I don't see why a pursuit was even necessary."
JPSO says the SUV crashed into another vehicle on St. Bernard Avenue. Inside that vehicle, were two of Smith's daughters. Gisselle and her big sister, Paris.
Paris was taken to hospital after the accident, and that's where Smith is, by his surviving daughter's side, he said, "She's doing ok, she's recovering well... She's eating a little pudding."
Paris survived the crash, but, now, Smith has to find the words to tell his daughter her sister is gone.
Through tears, he said, "I have to hold myself back a lot, it hurts, the loss of Gisselle, they were close, she don't know yet, I don't want to tell her, till she is capable."
His voice filled with pride when he spoke about Gisselle, he said, "She was very active, academically she was an honor roll student at West Jeff, she was on the band and the female football team and basketball team."
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Gisselle lost her mother five months ago to cancer.
"Gisselle took her mother's death really hard, really hard, it was hard to bring her back and she was just now getting back to things."
Days after an accident that injured one daughter and killed another, Smith stands as the grieving patriarch of his family. A father wishing he could tell his baby girl one more time how much he loved her.
He said, "Oh baby I miss you, Daddy love his baby girl, I love all my daughters, but Giselle, I love you baby, just rest in peace."
Smith said Gisselle had plans to become a real estate agent. Her sister Paris, just became an EMT. She also turned 20 the day after the crash.
Joneaka Smooth has been charged with manslaughter, negligent injuring, hit-and-run driving/death/serious injury and resisting an officer by flight.
Friday a judge set her bond for $565,000.
