Josh Moon

Montgomery Advertiser

Montgomery Police officer Aaron “A.C.” Smith, who has been charged with murder for shooting an unarmed black man while on duty, made his first courtroom appearance Wednesday morning in a motions hearing before District Court Judge Jimmy Pool.

Smith’s primary defense counsel, Mickey McDermott, withdrew motions for additional security for next week’s hearing and to have Smith excluded from that hearing, saying he felt comfortable with the amount of security provided by the Montgomery Sheriff’s Office.

McDermott informed the court that he planned to have a court reporter present at the hearing — an oddity for district court, which Pool noted is not “a court of record.” Pool also denied McDermott’s request to have the hearing videotaped.

“It was a productive morning overall,” McDermott said following the hearing. “I think we’re satisfied with the security here —Sheriff (Derrick) Cunningham always does a great job with that and this morning was no different. There was a crowd here when we arrived and it was handled well.”

Smith’s killing of Greg Gunn sparked protests around the city and prompted MPD to immediately turn the case over to the State Bureau of Investigation. MPD said Gunn wasn’t armed and was walking home around 3 a.m. Feb. 25 when he was stopped by Smith.

An altercation ensued and then a chase. Neighbors said Gunn was heard yelling for help and banging on a neighbor’s front door just before Smith shot him. An autopsy performed by a medical examiner hired by Gunn’s family said Gunn was shot five times.

McDermott said in an earlier interview that Smith used a taser on Gunn six times and attempted to use his baton before firing at Gunn when he picked up a weapon. Police have said Gunn had a painter’s stick.

Officer faces murder charges in Greg Gunn shooting

Shock, sadness fill neighborhood after man killed by police

While commenting on the need for extra security during Wednesday’s hearing, McDermott told Pool that he filed the request initially because of vandalism at his office and to his cars and because of threats made against him, Smith and Smith’s family.

“We have a dumpster at our office and it has been strewn throughout the parking lot twice now,” McDermott said. “We’ve had our locks messed with. Someone spray painted my car. I’m going to have to have the whole thing repainted. And there are death threats everywhere.”

McDermott specifically referenced a “wanted poster” featuring Smith’s photo in his MPD uniform that has made its way around Facebook.

Karen Jones, a local activist, created the poster, but she said the poster never called for violence against Smith. The text of the poster, under the photo of Smith, reads: “The above is wanted for the murder of Greg Gunn. The above should be considered armed and dangerous. If you know this man, contact the Dpt. Of Justice.”

“It didn’t have nothing to do with murdering him,” Jones said. “It said to contact the (Department of Justice) and that he was armed and dangerous. That’s all. This has been blown up for no reason. If he’s getting threats, it isn’t from this.”

McDermott said he felt the threats were serious enough to move Smith and his extended family out of the Montgomery area and into “a very secure location.” McDermott wouldn’t reveal what Smith does on a daily basis, but did say he has received five job offers.

“Three sheriffs and two city chiefs so far (have offered jobs),” McDermott said. “You have to realize that Smith has four years on the job, 21 weeks of training and was involved in a police-involved shooting. He will be a beacon of learning for any department out there.”

Smith will next be in court at 1 p.m. Thursday.

Independent autopsy: Greg Gunn shot five times