Prosecutors: Victim gave shooter’s number to police before dying

A man who had been shot was able to identify his assailant—and provide police with man’s phone number—before dying last summer, according to prosecutors.

Carl Smith

Now, 29-year-old Carl Smith is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the June 23 death of 40-year-old Alfred Barnett.

Barnett was sitting in the driver’s seat of a car selling drugs in the 1600 block of West 69th Street just after 11 p.m. when Smith walked up to the car, pointed a gun, and shot him once in the groin, prosecutors said in court Thursday.

Barnett put the car in drive but drove only about three blocks before crashing, prosecutors said. He was taken to Christ Hospital, where he underwent surgery.

Witnesses of the shooting identified Smith to police as the shooter, prosecutors said.

Once Barnett was out of surgery, he identified Smith in a photo array, telling police he knew his nickname and providing Smith’s phone number, prosecutors said.

Barnett, of the 7200 block of South Rockwell Street, died four days later on June 27, the medical examiner’s office said. He also went by the name Kenneth Martin.

An autopsy found Barnett died from a gunshot to the groin and his death was ruled a homicide, the medical examiner’s office said.

Smith was found hiding under a bed at his girlfriend’s house, prosecutors said.

Judge James Brown ordered Smith held without bond Thursday.