US: Man gets 100 years in jail for causing death of an Indian-origin girl

The man, Joseph Lee Smith from Shreveport, was found guilty in January of committing the murder, reported local news media outlets like KSLA News 12 and the Shreveport Times.

While playing in a hotel room on Monkhouse Drive, the young girl was hit in the head by a bullet that entered her room. She was rushed to a nearby hospital, but despite fighting for three days, she passed away on March 23, 2021.

During Smith's trial, it was disclosed to the jury that he had an altercation with another individual in the parking lot of the Super 8 Motel.

Smith used a 9-mm handgun to hit the other man, causing the weapon to discharge a bullet. It did not hit the intended target but instead went into the hotel room, hitting Mya in the head and grazing her mother.

According to reports, District Judge John D Mosely has handed down a sentence of 60 years of hard labour without the possibility of probation, parole, or sentence reduction to Smith for the murder of Mya Patel in March 2021.

Additionally, Smith has also received separate convictions for obstruction of justice and aggravated battery, for which he must serve 20 years each. Like the murder charge, these sentences must also be served without the possibility of probation, parole, or sentence reduction.

The reports said, On Thursday, the Caddo Parish District Attorney's Office said: "the terms were enhanced by Smith being a repeat felony offender and must be served consecutively, for a total of 100 years."