Published: Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009
Alleged shooter is Paso Robles High School coach
An assistant high school football coach is being held after an attack on his pregnant girlfriend
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closeA high school football coach who allegedly shot a pregnant woman three times at her Paso Robles home Friday is expected to be arraigned today on two counts of felony attempted murder.
Steven Smith, 26, of San Miguel is also charged with one count of first-degree burglary, officials said.
Police confirmed Monday that he is an assistant football coach at Paso Robles High School.
The woman, whose name police are not disclosing because she is the alleged victim of domestic violence, is about 36 weeks pregnant and is recovering at Twin Cities Community Hospital in Templeton.
The allegations against Smith involve attempted murder of the woman and the unborn child.
Both she and the baby, who police said appears to be Smith’s, are expected to survive her injuries.
The woman was struck by shots to her chin, forehead and hand with a small-caliber handgun.
In the shot to the forehead, the bullet apparently traveled to the back of the head under the skin but on top of the skull, said Lt. Ty Lewis of the Paso Robles Police Department.
A domestic violence enhancement linked to the attempted murder charge carries a sentence of 25 years to life, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
The pair was apparently fighting because Smith was trying to end the relationship with the victim, police said, and she didn’t want it to stop.
“It’s one of those things where it changes depending on which party you ask,” Lewis said.
Smith joined the Bearcats’ staff five years ago, Paso Robles head coach Rich Schimke said.
“We’re just shocked,” Schimke said Monday night. “Our thoughts, prayers and well wishes go out to both families. May peace come to both families as soon as possible.”
Schimke deferred questions about Smith’s status at the school to athletic director Mark Rose, who did not respond to phone messages Monday afternoon and evening.
Other school officials also did not return phone calls.
Smith remained Monday in County Jail in lieu of posting $500,000 bail.
Just before midnight Friday, officers found the 34-year-old woman in her home on Via Promesa in Paso Robles conscious after being shot several times.
Her 15-year-old daughter, whose name police are not disclosing, lives with her mother and made the 911 call.
After the shooting, Smith left the Via Promesa home, but the woman identified him as the shooter before being taken to the hospital, police said.
He was later detained on Bonita Place in San Miguel by sheriff’s deputies, and he was turned over to Paso Robles police.
The Police Department did not release the 911 tape Monday.
Staff writer Donovan Aird contributed to this report.
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