UPDATED: Repeat Offender is Facing First-Degree Carjacking and Aggravated Robbery Charges Following Vehicle Theft in Apple Valley
Updated: June 25th at 2 PM: Juvenile Officially Charged in Connection to an Armed Carjacking in Apple Valley
APPLE VALLEY, MINNESOTA - The Dakota County Attorney’s Office released their criminal complaint against Grayshaun Lamar Smith, 18, for his involvement in a first-degree carjacking and aggravated robbery incident that occurred on February 18, 2024, in Apple Valley. Smith faces serious felony charges, including carjacking with bodily harm or a dangerous weapon and aggravated robbery while armed.
According to the complaint, the carjacking took place around 4:50 p.m. when a locksmith (Victim)" responded to a call from a person identifying himself as "Sebastian." The caller claimed that his child was locked inside a Jeep at a residential address in Apple Valley, Minnesota. Upon arrival, the Victim was approached by a male suspect, later identified as Smith, who pointed a rifle at him, demanding his key programmer, car keys, and cell phone. Smith then ordered the Victim to flee the scene and subsequently drove off in the Victim’s vehicle.
The Victim called the Apple Valley Police from a nearby residence, and law enforcement quickly tracked the stolen vehicle to a neighborhood in Saint Paul from an app on the phone. St. Paul officers found the vehicle with its driver’s door open and running. A suspect, identified as a juvenile and a relative of Smith, was arrested nearby. Although initially identified as the carjacker, further investigation revealed Smith as the true perpetrator. The juvenile provided information about Smith, including the information on his Facebook account.
Substantial evidence was found during the investigation by law enforcement, including dashcam footage from the Victim’s vehicle. The footage captured the suspect, identified as Smith, making phone calls boasting about the carjacking and describing the incident in detail. Smith’s DNA was found on the vehicle's steering wheel and gear shift. Surveillance footage from the juvenile’s apartment complex showed Smith and the juvenile in the vicinity around the time of the carjacking.
The day after the carjacking, Smith was arrested in Saint Paul while in a stolen vehicle. During a police pursuit, he discarded an AR-15-style rifle, which had been reported stolen the day before the carjacking. Text messages and images from Smith’s cell phone further implicated him, showing him with the rifle and referencing stolen items from the Victim’s vehicle.
Criminal History
Court records show that Smith has a significant criminal history, including two prior convictions for possession of a firearm by an ineligible person and a juvenile adjudication for first-degree aggravated robbery. At the time of the alleged offenses, Smith was on probation for one of the firearm convictions. He is currently in custody with the Minnesota Department of Corrections until June 2027.
Charges and Potential Sentences
According to the criminal complaint, Smith is charged with first-degree carjacking, which carries a maximum sentence of 5 to 20 years and/or a fine between $10,500 and $35,000. He is also charged with first-degree aggravated robbery, with similar potential penalties. Both charges are classified as felonies under Minnesota law.
This article provides an overview of the allegations against Grayshuan Smith, detailing the charges, evidence, and potential legal outcomes. The information is derived from the formal complaint filed in the District Court of Minnesota and reflects the ongoing judicial process. The community is reminded that charges are allegations, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Further updates on this case will depend on the progress of the legal proceedings.
Provided by the Department of Corrections: Grayshaun Smith
Written By: Will Wight
Cover Photo Credit by Scott Rodgerson on Unsplash
