A 27-year-old suspect in a Florida triple murder -- who calls himself "Prince David" -- took refuge in a West Knoxville, Tenn., building Tuesday that was quickly surrounded by SWAT team. WBIR-TV reports.Police had been on the lookout for the suspect, David Eugene Smith, in connection with the death of two women and a man in Lakeland, Fla., over the Memorial Day weekend. Smith was holed up in a motel, according to Knoxnews.com.
One of the victim's was found by her 14-year-old daughter who had been away on an ROTC assignment, WPTV in West Palm Beach reports.
Smith had been living at the home where the bodies were found for the past two months, according to WBIR.
Florida police were told that Smith refers to himself as "Prince David" and has posted on his Facebook page, "I hate evil and will not allow it on my planet," WKMG-TV in Orlando reports.
Detectives said they believe Smith was traveling to Chattanooga where a high school friend lives.
Polk County sheriff Grady Judd said that Smith, who is formerly in the military and suffers from PTSD, had been previously taken into custody under Florida's so-called Baker Act, which allows for involuntary incarceration in mental health cases.
"We believe him to be exceptionally dangerous," Judd said.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...smith/9626499/