Phoenix man accused of killing wife, 2 kids had contact with police last year
Apr 15, 2019, 7:06 PM | Updated: 7:07 pm
(MCSO Photo)
PHOENIX — Phoenix police said Monday that they had contact last year with the man who allegedly killed his wife, two young daughters and a man he believed was having an affair with his wife last week.
Sgt. Tommy Thompson said a neighbor called the police in November 2018 and told them Austin Smith had a gun and was yelling that people were trying to kill him.
Thompson said Smith cooperated with police but he was taken to a psychiatric center and his three guns were impounded.
One week after the incident, Smith requested his guns back. He was found to have no warrants and was not prohibited from owning guns, so they were returned to him, Thompson said.
Smith, 30, was arrested for allegedly killing 29-year-old Dasia Patterson, 7-year-old Mayan Smith and 5-year-old Nasha Smith at their home in Phoenix on Thursday night.
He also allegedly shot and killed Ron Freeman, 46, who was found at a different location.
Patterson and Nasha Smith died of gunshot wounds, and police believe Mayan Smith was killed by blunt force trauma.
Smith told police God told him to commit the murders.
A third daughter, age 3, was found uninjured in the house