Suspect in Elk Grove Walmart Cash Room Heist Convicted of Attempted Murder, Armed Robbery

March 5, 2018 | 

A Sacramento man who was charged with a brazen robbery of an Elk Grove Walmart store in 2016 was convicted in a Sacramento jury trial of the attempted murder of an armor car guard.

On Friday, March 2 Gilbert Smith (pictured above), 47, was convicted in the July 8, 2016, attempted robbery of an armored car at the Golden One Credit Union on Florin Road in Sacramento. Smith was found guilty of shooting the guard after robbing a cash bag. 

After shooting the guard, Smith sustained gunshot wounds when the injured guard returned fire. The guard suffered severe injuries, including an infected lung and a fractured rib that required multiple surgeries.

At the time of the attempted murder, Smith was on bail after he and his girlfriend at the time, Shenita Marie Barnes of Sacramento, were arrested for their roles in the February 9, 2016, alleged robbery of the cash room at the Elk Grove Boulevard Walmart. Those charges (#16FE005509) have not yet gone to trial.  

Smith has a 1994 conviction for drug sales and faces a possible sentence of 32 years to life. Sentencing will happen on April 23.