NEW ORLEANS — The two West Jefferson High School teens killed as a result of an alleged shoplifter leading police on a chase, have been identified by the Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office.
Orleans Parish coroner Jason Melancon confirmed to WWL Louisiana on Friday that Gisselle Smith, 17, and Semaj Morris, 17, were the two teens who died when, according to authorities, 31-year-old Joneaka Smooth allegedly crashed her car attempting to flee Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies.
The crash happened at about 7:39 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 610 East near the St. Bernard Avenue off-ramp, investigators said.
JPSO deputies were called to a store inside Lakeside Mall after a group of women were caught stealing. An off-duty deputy saw the women fleeing the mall in a red SUV, according to a news release. The deputy then notified on-duty deputies via radio and followed the women near I-10 East and a pursuit began.
The SUV crossed the Jefferson-Orleans parish line, prompting a JPSO supervisor to terminate the chase.
According to authorities, the vehicle failed to make a right turn onto St. Bernard Avenue, crossed two southbound lanes, and hit an elevated grassy median. The SUV became airborne and struck a 2022 Toyota Camry, Smith and Morris were inside.
Smooth was arrested Thursday and booked into the Orleans Parish Justice Center on two counts of manslaughter, one count of negligent injuring, one count of hit-and-run driving and one count of resisting an officer by flight, according to court documents.
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