DATE: June 6, 2022

CASE: Adrian McRath & Dominic Smith (20FE017838)

PROSECUTOR: Deputy District Attorney Andrea Morris, Homicide Unit

Adrian McRath was convicted by a jury of the second-degree murder of Shelvin Sharma and being a felon in possession of a firearm. The jury also found true the allegation that McRath personally discharged a firearm causing death.  Dominic Smith was convicted of robbery.

On September 2, 2020, the victim was staying at a North Highlands motel with his cousin. The victim’s cousin left the motel and returned with his friend, Dominic Smith, along with Adrian McRath and McRath’s girlfriend. The girlfriend originally told police that the victim’s cousin had EDD cards that belonged to Smith and the purpose for going to the motel was to retrieve the EDD cards. That night, the victim was shot once in the back. The cousin then grabbed his backpack and drove away with Smith, McRath and McRath’s girlfriend.  While in the car, Smith demanded the cousin’s cell phones, which were thrown out of the car window. Smith was apprehended in his apartment the next morning. McRath fled to Texas and was eventually apprehended. The gun used in the shooting was never recovered.

Allegations that Smith has prior strike convictions for robbery and assault with a firearm will be determined at sentencing.

McRath faces a maximum sentence of 40 years to life in prison. Smith faces a maximum sentence of 30 years to life in prison. Sentencing is set for August 5, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. in Department 40 before the Honorable Steve White.

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