Sergeant Larrell Kent Smith, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, California

Sergeant Larrell Kent Smith

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, California

End of Watch Saturday, April 16, 1983

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Larrell Kent Smith

Sergeant Larrell Smith was shot and killed during a SWAT raid while serving a search warrant at 3450 Robinette Avenue in Baldwin Park.

He was the third man on the team making an entry through a window. As the team entered, the suspect, who was flanking the team, opened fire and struck Sergeant Smith in the head. Other team members returned fire and killed the subject.

Sergeant Smith was transported to the Queen of the Valley Hospital in West Covina, where he succumbed to his injuries two days later.

Sergeant Smith had served with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for 17 years. He was survived by his wife, two daughters, one son, and parents.

Bio

Age 40
Tour 17 years
Badge Not available

Incident Details

Cause Gunfire
Incident Date Thursday, April 14, 1983
Weapon Gun; Unknown type
Offender Shot and killed

narcotics, Raid

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I noticed this man was the same guy from the song “Nacho Verduzco” which tells the events of this tragedy. The song is mainly about the suspect, Ignacio, but it calls an officer valiant, saying they died on the line. I managed to track it down to Sgt Smith. I wonder how his family feels or if they even know that Chalino Sanchez, who sold over 200 million albums, made a song mentioning Smith in his 1989 album “El Pelavacas” Chalino also fought against the cartels and narcos, which led to him being assassinated in 1992. Chalino gunned down the 2nd highest ranking member of the Guadalajara cartel(now the Sinaloan Cartel) in 1977 at 17 years old. I see why he resonated with this valiant man in his song.

Sean W. O’Leary

November 11, 2025