A woman has pleaded guilty in connection with a horrific crash that killed two teenagers in 2024.
Joneaka Smooth pleaded guilty to four charges, including two counts of manslaughter, in connection with the deadly crash in Orleans Parish.
According to police, she crashed into the teens’ car on Interstate 610 and St. Bernard after attempting to flee from police near Lakeside Mall.
She had been caught shoplifting at the mall, which prompted the chase.
Smooth is scheduled to be sentenced next month.
More on the crash:
The deadly crash happened on Dec. 11, 2024, in Jefferson Parish before ending in Orleans Parish.
According to the New Orleans Police Department, two 17-year-old girls were killed in the crash after a group of women fled from the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office after shoplifting merchandise from Lakeside Mall.
The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office identified the girls as Gisselle Smith and Semaj Morris.
Just before 7:30 p.m., JPSO deputies were called to a store in Lakeside Mall after a group of women was seen shoplifting merchandise.
An off-duty deputy spotted the suspects fleeing in a red SUV and was able to notify responding JPSO deputies via radio, who followed the suspects as they entered I-10 East.
Deputies spotted the vehicle, and a pursuit was initiated at 7:33 p.m. and lasted less than one minute before being terminated at the direction of a JPSO supervisor.
NOPD identified the driver of the car involved in the chase as Joneaka Smooth.
Smooth was arrested after turning herself in. She faced charges of two counts of manslaughter, one count of negligent injury, hit-and-run, and flight from an officer.
Investigators say that at about 7:39 p.m., Smooth was accused of speeding in the 2013 Mercedes GLK East on Interstate 610 when she exited at the St. Bernard Avenue off-ramp.
Smooth didn’t make the right turn onto St. Bernard Avenue, causing the car to cross two lanes of the southbound side of St. Bernard Avenue.
Smooth struck a median, launching the car into the air before hitting a 2022 Toyota Camry.
As they reached the end of the off-ramp, deputies saw that the suspect vehicle had been involved in the severe crash on St. Bernard Avenue at the end of the ramp. NOPD and New Orleans EMS were notified of the crash and secured the scene.
A 17-year-old female in the Toyota was pronounced dead at the scene. Two other victims in the Toyota were transported by EMS to a local hospital for treatment.
A second victim, another 17-year-old, died from her injuries in the hospital, according to police.
Investigators say the passengers of the Mercedes fled the scene, with one being captured by Jefferson Parish deputies.
That suspect was identified as Lisa Herring, 37. She was booked on shoplifting charges.
Smooth has a history of theft in Jefferson Parish with a criminal record dating back 10 years. She has served three prison sentences for theft, according to online court records.
Smooth was also convicted of theft in 2014 and 2015, but details regarding those thefts were not available.
Herring has a criminal history of prostitution, according to court records.
READ MORE:Woman pleads guilty to manslaughter in crash that killed two teens in 2024
