SYRACUSE, NY (WSYR-TV) - Kahari Smith of Syracuse is facing state and federal murder charges for the November shooting death of a former Henninger High School star athlete.
Syracuse Police and the U.S. Attorney's office announced Saturday morning that Smith is in custody. He's expected to be arraigned on charges of murder and criminal possesion of a weapon.
The U.S Attorney's office says Smith could face the death penalty.
According to a federal indictment, Smith was a member of the V-Not gang. In November, the gang was pursuing members of their rival, the Bricktown gang, when Kihari Blue was shot.
Police do not think Blue was a gang member, but believe he was with friends who were that were the intended targets.
Investigators say the Bricktown gang believed the shooting came from another rival, the 110 gang. That caused them to retaliate with a drive-by shooting days later, which killed toddler, Rashaad Walker Jr. Police believe his father, a member of the 110 gang was the intended target.
21-year old Saquan Evans was charged with murder for that shooting.
