Woman pleads guilty to involuntary manslaughter in fatal 2014 shooting

A woman pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter Thursday for fatally shooting a man in 2014 during an argument about whether or not a gun would fire.

Joeann Smith, 54, was sentenced to 30 months probation for the Jan. 8, 2014, shooting in the 1700 block of East 72nd Street, court records show.

Smith and 65-year-old Willie Smith were arguing about whether or not a gun would fire when Joeann Smith pointed the weapon at the man’s face and fired, authorities said at the time.

Willie Smith, of the 500 block of North Des Plaines Street, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced brain-dead two days later, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

Joeann Smith, who lived in the home on 72nd Street, pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter, court records show. She also faced a charge of reckless discharge of a firearm, but that charge was dropped.

Judge Michael B. McHale handed down the sentence at Thursday’s hearing, according to court records.