Charges filed against man accused of killing driver during police chase

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- A 40-year-old Milwaukee man has been charged in connection with a crash that killed an innocent driver near 24th and Burleigh. 

Robert Jones faces the following: 

• Vehicle operate flee/elude officer resulting in the death of another
• Possession of a firearm by a felon. 

The crash happened Feb. 25. Police say officers tried to stop someone for speeding near N. 24th St. and W. Burleigh Street around 6:15 p.m. The driver -- later identified as Jones -- took off, and the pursuit ended after covering about four blocks.

Jones' vehicle T-boned another vehicle traveling north on 20th Street. The driver of the vehicle that was struck was killed. He was identified as 30-year-old Amari Smith. 

Smith's mother shared with CBS 58, he was due to graduate from Milwaukee Area Technical College in May. He was studying cosmetology and wanted to be a barber. 

"He said he would be done by his birthday, and that's May 15," Shanita Smith, Hill's mother said. 

According to a criminal complaint, investigators interviewed Jones about the crash. During the interview, he admitted to officials he was driving his wife's vehicle when police tried to stop him. He knew he had a warrant and told officials if he got arrested, his wife would probably leave him. 

The complaint says, Jones admitted to trying to flee police but got into a crash. After the crash, he was scared, so he fled into a graveyard and eventually was arrested. 

Jones, according to the complaint, admitted he knew there was a gun in the vehicle, but it did not belong to him. Jones said he was on the way to bring the gun back to his friend, the complaint says.