Boyfriend of murdered Leesburg, FL woman makes plea and sentenced with up to 25-45 years in prison

Office of the State Attorney
William M. Gladson, State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit of Florida
Serving Marion, Lake, Citrus, Sumter, Hernando Counties

November 14, 2023

The murder case of 37 year-old Melissa K. Smith took a decisive turn on Monday morning, November 13, 2023, when 41 year-old Alphonza Bryant agreed to a plea of guilty to murder in the first-degree and possession of a firearm by a felon. Jury selection was expected, but instead, Bryant was sentenced to 45 years in the Florida Department of Corrections, with a mandatory 25-year minimum term, in accordance with the 10-20-Life Law.

The murder occurred shortly before 2:30 am on August 8, 2022. Police received a call that a woman had been shot. They arrived at Smih's Penn Street, Leesburg, Florida home to find her dead in her laundry room of an apparent gunshot wound.

A couple days later, Bryant was arrested on a probation violation related to a battery charge that had occurred earlier in 2022. Bryant had also been released from state prison in October 2021 after serving close to 20 years for an armed robbery. Bryant was quickly considered a person of interest in Smith's murder, and within two weeks, Leesburg Police Department officers had sufficient evidence to charge him with charges related to Smith's death: premeditated homicide, armed burglary, and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

Smith’s friends told police that Bryant, whom Smith had been dating for only a brief period of time, had left from a dinner at Smith's home during the evening of Aug. 7, 2022, angry because a neighbor had fought with him due to his behavior toward Smith.

"Eyewitness testimony serves as a crucial pillar in prosecuting any case, let alone a murder case," said State Attorney William "Bill" Gladson. "Bryant knew the evidence stacked against him would weave the narrative of truth for jurors to convict him. Acknowledging this grim reality, we are pleased the defendant was sentenced to fourty-five years in prison. We hope this helps to bring closure to the tragic loss suffered by Melissa Keonna Smith's family."

The investigation turned up video surveillance footage from several locations near the victim's residence that captured Bryant's presence in the vicinity, leading up to the fatal shooting. One video showed Bryant approaching the victim's home, carrying a firearm, and engaging in a off-camera verbal altercation that culminated in a single gunshot being fired.

Eyewitness accounts corroborated the events captured on video. One person, who was present with the victim a short time prior to the shooting incident, described Bryant's attempt to forcibly enter the laundry room while brandishing a weapon. Faced with the gun, the witness left the scene, walking down the same path where the fatal shot was fired a short time later. Other eyewitnesses observed Bryant fleeing from Smith's home and dropping a firearm shortly after the gunshot echoed through the area.