April 29, 2003

At approximately 3:30 PM on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 the JeffCom 911 Center received a call from an individual asking that a Deputy be sent to Smith’s Services Towing located at 10675 Rhody Drive in Port Hadlock, Washington. The caller indicated that they had been on the telephone with an individual at that business, and that the individual had asked the caller to request Deputies.

The first Jefferson County Deputy to arrive at the scene observed an armed man on the premises and a wounded individual, later identified as Frank “Skip” M. Smith, Jr. The armed man surrendered to the Deputy and indicated involvement in the shooting of Mr. Smith. Smith, the 63-year-old owner of the business, had been shot several times.

Smith was treated by emergency medical personnel from Jefferson County Fire District #1 (Chimacum), but he died at the scene.

The Washington State Patrol provided crime scene processing assistance, and the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office is conducting the investigation into the death of Mr. Smith. The suspect taken into custody was believed to have a past domestic relationship with Mr. Smith’s daughter. The family has been officially notified of the death.