Mother praying for sons, victims
By J.M. BROWN, Times-Herald staff writer
The mother of a Vallejo rapper accused of shooting his neighbor and a Sacramento man says God will judge her son's fate, even if he has to "own up to his responsibility."
In an interview Saturday, Shirley Stewart, the mother of Pierre F. "Pimp-P-Mack" Smith, said she prays diligently for her sons, and for those who were shot and their families.
"I don't want that mother to lose her child. I direct my prayer first toward her," Stewart said. "I don't support any wrong - wherever the wrong was. That individual has to take responsibility."
Pierre Smith, 27, who the mother called a "hothead," and his brother, Kareem D. Smith, 26, also a rapper, are charged with two counts each of attempted murder in Wednesday's shooting of Pierre Smith's downstairs neighbor. Police say Pierre Smith fired the shots.
The shootings, which Smith relatives say were not rap-related, occurred two days before a party scheduled at Osaka Sushi to celebrate the release of the rap CD "California Dreams" featuring the brothers.
The CD was produced by their oldest brother, Chuck "El Scrooge" Smith, owner of a Vallejo-based record label called ZOCs, which stands for Zealous Overwhelming Characters.
The Smith brothers may enter a plea this week, but for now remain in Solano County Jail under $500,000 bail each. They have declined a Times-Herald interview request.
Police responding to emergency calls found Benolter Gambles, Pierre Smith's neighbor, and that man's friend, Sacramento "Mobb Figgaz" rapper Orindall Jack, shot several times outside Gambles' Blue Rock Village apartment in the 2000 block of Ascot Parkway. Jack's infant daughter was sitting in a nearby car but was not injured.
Jack, 25, sustained a gunshot wound to his head and shoulder, police said. A nursing supervisor said he was still in critical condition Saturday at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek.
Gambles, 23, was shot three times in the head but the injuries were less severe, police said. He was listed in fair condition Saturday.
Police say Gambles and Pierre Smith got into a fight Tuesday, which led to the next day's bloodshed. Some who know the men say the dispute was over money, but Smith's rap producing brother says it had nothing to do with music.
Relatives of Gambles and Jack families could not be reached Saturday.
Chuck "El Scrooge" Smith said rumors spreading "in the street" that the shootings were part of a rap war are untrue. "I believe it was in self-defense," he said.
The mother of the suspects said she could say little about the argument, but "I don't believe it was some ongoing rap war," she said.
Stewart, a Vallejo insurance consultant who said she raised her five children alone in a Christian home, said her sons did not look at her during their first court hearing Friday.
"My sons hate for me to be distressed," she said, adding that she loves both sons. But she acknowledged that Pierre Smith has a temper and "thinks after the fact."
The Times-Herald reported Friday that Pierre Smith, who also uses the name Malik Wright, pleaded no contest last month to possessing marijuana for sale. Court records show the charge followed a guilty plea in June to an earlier pot possession charge.
Meanwhile, Kareem "Notti" Smith had worked hard for several years to stay "squeaky clean," Stewart said. Smith, who was convicted of beating up famed Vallejo rapper Lathan "Young Lay" Williams in 1997, had just one more month to serve on parole.
Prior to that incident, Stewart said, Williams was having sex with her 14-year-old niece and stole money from her, but the family did not file a police report.
Kareem Smith then attacked Williams to recover his young cousin's money, Stewart said.
Williams, whose 17-year-old girlfriend, Daphne Boyden, was murdered when their baby son, Le-Zhan Williams, was kidnapped in 1996, is now serving time in state prison for armed robbery.
Asked whether she was upset at one son for allegedly involving his brother in a shooting, Stewart said, "I'm not blaming Pierre. I'm not angry at him. I have too much to do."
That includes paying for his legal counsel and helping to care for his three children and one stepchild, she said.
"I'm a mother who loves her child," she said. "God knew this was coming. I'm trusting God that justice will be served."
http://timesheraldonline.com/articles/2003/11/15/news/news04.txt
By J.M. BROWN, Times-Herald staff writer
The mother of a Vallejo rapper accused of shooting his neighbor and a Sacramento man says God will judge her son's fate, even if he has to "own up to his responsibility."
In an interview Saturday, Shirley Stewart, the mother of Pierre F. "Pimp-P-Mack" Smith, said she prays diligently for her sons, and for those who were shot and their families.
"I don't want that mother to lose her child. I direct my prayer first toward her," Stewart said. "I don't support any wrong - wherever the wrong was. That individual has to take responsibility."
Pierre Smith, 27, who the mother called a "hothead," and his brother, Kareem D. Smith, 26, also a rapper, are charged with two counts each of attempted murder in Wednesday's shooting of Pierre Smith's downstairs neighbor. Police say Pierre Smith fired the shots.
The shootings, which Smith relatives say were not rap-related, occurred two days before a party scheduled at Osaka Sushi to celebrate the release of the rap CD "California Dreams" featuring the brothers.
The CD was produced by their oldest brother, Chuck "El Scrooge" Smith, owner of a Vallejo-based record label called ZOCs, which stands for Zealous Overwhelming Characters.
The Smith brothers may enter a plea this week, but for now remain in Solano County Jail under $500,000 bail each. They have declined a Times-Herald interview request.
Police responding to emergency calls found Benolter Gambles, Pierre Smith's neighbor, and that man's friend, Sacramento "Mobb Figgaz" rapper Orindall Jack, shot several times outside Gambles' Blue Rock Village apartment in the 2000 block of Ascot Parkway. Jack's infant daughter was sitting in a nearby car but was not injured.
Jack, 25, sustained a gunshot wound to his head and shoulder, police said. A nursing supervisor said he was still in critical condition Saturday at John Muir Medical Center, Walnut Creek.
Gambles, 23, was shot three times in the head but the injuries were less severe, police said. He was listed in fair condition Saturday.
Police say Gambles and Pierre Smith got into a fight Tuesday, which led to the next day's bloodshed. Some who know the men say the dispute was over money, but Smith's rap producing brother says it had nothing to do with music.
Relatives of Gambles and Jack families could not be reached Saturday.
Chuck "El Scrooge" Smith said rumors spreading "in the street" that the shootings were part of a rap war are untrue. "I believe it was in self-defense," he said.
The mother of the suspects said she could say little about the argument, but "I don't believe it was some ongoing rap war," she said.
Stewart, a Vallejo insurance consultant who said she raised her five children alone in a Christian home, said her sons did not look at her during their first court hearing Friday.
"My sons hate for me to be distressed," she said, adding that she loves both sons. But she acknowledged that Pierre Smith has a temper and "thinks after the fact."
The Times-Herald reported Friday that Pierre Smith, who also uses the name Malik Wright, pleaded no contest last month to possessing marijuana for sale. Court records show the charge followed a guilty plea in June to an earlier pot possession charge.
Meanwhile, Kareem "Notti" Smith had worked hard for several years to stay "squeaky clean," Stewart said. Smith, who was convicted of beating up famed Vallejo rapper Lathan "Young Lay" Williams in 1997, had just one more month to serve on parole.
Prior to that incident, Stewart said, Williams was having sex with her 14-year-old niece and stole money from her, but the family did not file a police report.
Kareem Smith then attacked Williams to recover his young cousin's money, Stewart said.
Williams, whose 17-year-old girlfriend, Daphne Boyden, was murdered when their baby son, Le-Zhan Williams, was kidnapped in 1996, is now serving time in state prison for armed robbery.
Asked whether she was upset at one son for allegedly involving his brother in a shooting, Stewart said, "I'm not blaming Pierre. I'm not angry at him. I have too much to do."
That includes paying for his legal counsel and helping to care for his three children and one stepchild, she said.
"I'm a mother who loves her child," she said. "God knew this was coming. I'm trusting God that justice will be served."
http://timesheraldonline.com/articles/2003/11/15/news/news04.txt
