Family of man killed after police pursuit distraught

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - 85-year-old Doretha Smith is a retired housekeeper.

But after some surgeries over the years, the person who helped do her housekeeping - was her baby boy - 56-year-old Gary Smith.

"Well, he could clean up. He could clean real good, he could shop. He'd take me places I wanted to go, if he had time." Doretha said.

But he can't visit her anymore, after her son wound up in the wrong place at the wrong time Now a more than 20-year-old photo of him, is all she has left..

Gary was killed Friday night while driving on 5th Avenue South.

Police say the driver of that stolen white Lexus SUV sped through a red light, hitting Gary’s car.

Detectives tell us a 16-year-old boy - started a chase about 24 miles away, in Bradenton, when a manatee county Sheriff's deputy tried to pull him over.

Minnie Morand, the mother of Gary's only son, was to emotional to go on-camera about the events that led to Smith’s death. The Manatee’s Sheriffs’ Office said they stop pursuing the teen after he went across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Morand is wondering why the chase didn't end right there.

A Manatee spokesperson said the deputy followed pursuit policy by backing off, so that St. Petersburg Police could look for the suspect. They are now conducting what they call a routine investigation.

Over at Doretha's home - someone else will pick up on Gary's routine of helping out.

”He was a real nice, talkative guy, come over and ask if she needs anything.” explained Marc Moran, Smth’s nephew.

He said it will now fall on him to take on the tasks his uncle used to do.

"Just hoping things get better. I mean, I'm just trying to take it one day at a time." Moran said.