LI Man Found Guilty After Shooting Neighbor 10X, Fleeing State: PD

BELLPORT, NY — A Bellport man was found guilty Monday after a jury trial of murdering his neighbor in June, 2022, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney said.

Shati Smith, 31, was found guilty of second-degree murder after fatally shooting 28-year-old Lee Houpe, the DA said.

The evidence at trial established that on June 15, 2022, at about 1:45 p.m., Houpe was

standing in a friend’s driveway when Smith got out of his car and opened fire on him, shooting him three times, Tierney said. When the Houpe collapsed to the ground, Smith proceeded to stand over him and shoot him an additional seven times, striking him in the face, arm, and chest, ultimately killing him, the DA said. Smith got into his car and leaving the scene, Tierney said.

Smith fled to Virginia, where he was found by members of the Suffolk County Police Department and subsequently arrested, the DA said.

On Monday, Smith was convicted of second-degree murder, a Class A felony; and two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, Class C felonies, after a jury trial heard before Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei, the DA said.

Smith is due back in court for sentencing on June 5 and faces up to 25 years to life in prison, the DA said.

He is represented by Jonathan Manley, who was not immediately available for comment.

"This defendant meant to kill Lee Houpe when he shot him three times and then stood over him, shooting him seven more times after he collapsed on the ground," Tierney said. "We are tired of burying our youth and watching families get torn apart due to senseless gun violence. Justice was served today, but the true tragedy is that it ever had to come to this."