SOLANO (KRON) — A Solano County jury has convicted Henry Albert Smith Jr. of first degree murder with special circumstances for the 2011 shooting death of Vallejo Officer Jim Capoot.
Smith, 41, now faces the death penalty or life in prison without parole.
Smith was suspected of robbing the Bank of America on Springs Road in Vallejo around 1:30 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2011.
Capoot, 44, of Vacaville, a 19-year veteran on the Vallejo police force, pursued Smith’s GMC Denali in his patrol car then chased Smith on foot to a yard at a residence in the 100 block of Janice Street in Vallejo.
The Solano County District Attorney’s Office argued that Smith fired three shots at Capoot. Capoot, who was wearing body armor, was struck and died of his injuries at a hospital. An estimated 4,000 people attended his funeral on Nov. 30.
Smith was charged with murdering a police officer while on duty, during a commission of a crime, to avoid a lawful arrest and while lying in wait.