Officer Joering was three times recognized with the Exceptional Duty Award. He was also recognized with a commendation in 2013.In 2013, Joering was also recognized for his role in an investigation that led to the arrest of dealers with links to high-level drug traffickers in Mexico. Joering’s K9 partner Sam was in the back of the cruiser during the shooting. Officer Joering and K9 Sam visited several schools in Marion County. Officer Morelli was recognized in 2012 as the Westerville Division of Police Officer of the Year.
Quentin L. Smith, 30, of Westerville has been charged with two counts of aggravated murder of a law enforcement officer. Gerald A. Lawson III, 30, of Westerville Heights, faces a federal charge for allegedly supplying Smith with the gun used to kill the two officers.
During the sentencing phase on 11/21/19, the prosecution for the first time was able to offer victim-impact statements to the jury under provisions of Marsy’s Law, a constitutional amendment approved by Ohio voters in November 2017. Before the change in the law, jurors heard only from defense witnesses during the sentencing phase. This is the first time that victim-impact testimony has been allowed in a death-penalty case in Ohio since the law went into effect Feb. 5, 2018, five days before the Westerville shooting occurred. On11/21/19, Judge Richard Frye sentenced Quentin Smith to two life sentences, plus 26.5 years. Just as he did throughout his murder trial, at his sentencing , Quentin Smith said nothing and showed nothing: no expression, no emotion, no signs of remorse. And given a final chance to speak, he declined. Smith was eligible for the death penalty, but the jury instead recommended life in prison, and by law, the judge was not allowed to overrule them and impose death.
Gerald A. Lawson III pleaded guilty to making what’s known as a straw purchase for his friend Quentin L. Smith and was sentenced on 10/18/18 to five years in prison.
