Suspect sentenced to 25 years in 2011 USC party shooting

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A 22-year-old Signal Hill man was sentenced to 25 years in state prison for opening fire at an off-campus party near USC last year, injuring two students.

Tyson Tyree Smith was sentenced immediately after pleading no contest to one count of attempted murder with a special allegation of personally and intentionally discharging a handgun. Another attempted murder count and a charge of assault with a semiautomatic firearm were dismissed as part of the plea deal.

The shooting occurred around 2 a.m. on Sept. 4, 2011, at an apartment building in the 1200 block of West 37th Place, about two blocks from USC.

According to authorities, Smith drew a .25-caliber automatic pistol and shot at students after they confronted him about stealing a pair of expensive headphones belonging to the apartment's tenant.

A female student was hit in the hand, and the bullet comtinued on to hit a male student in the chest. The male victim spent 11 days in the hospital before being released.

Police arrested Smith nearly two weeks after the shooting following an intensive investigation that included photos taken by people at the party and has remained in custody.

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