Louisiana Man Receives 100-Year Sentence for Causing Death of Indian Origin Girl

HI INDIA NEWS DESK

SHREVEPORT, LA- Joseph Lee Smith of Shreveport, Louisiana being sentenced to 100 years of hard labor for the murder of 5-year-old Mya Snehal Patel is deeply saddening. The loss of a young life is always tragic, and it is even more so when it is due to a senseless act of violence. The fact that the incident occurred as a result of an altercation in a hotel parking lot only adds to the tragedy. Mya Patel was playing in a hotel room on Monkhouse Drive when a bullet entered her room and hit her in the head. Patel was rushed to a nearby hospital where she fought for three days and was pronounced dead on March 23, 2021.

The sentence handed down by District Judge John D. Mosely is a clear reflection of the severity of Smith’s crime, and it sends a message that the justice system takes such incidents very seriously. The requirement for Smith to serve the sentences without the possibility of parole, probation, or reduced sentences is also a just outcome, given that he is a repeat offender.

Mya Patel’s death is a devastating loss for her family and friends, and they will likely carry the pain of her passing with them for the rest of their lives. I hope that the knowledge that justice has been served in her case brings them some comfort during this difficult time