Bruce Edward Smith III

Bruce Edward Smith III
Murdered January 24, 2020
Greenville, Texas
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Bruce Edward Smith, of Lone Oak, died early Saturday morning at Medical City of Plano after he was reported to have been stabbed repeatedly on the night of January 24, 2020 while at the intersection of Interstate 30 and Wesley Street in Greenville, Texas. Smith, 43, worked as an elevator mechanic and left behind a wife, son and two daughters.

Smith was able to drive to the parking lot of Walgreens, where he called his wife and told her what had happened. His wife, Gina Smith was across the street at the time, waiting to have dinner with him, when he called her. "I was in the Schlotzsky's parking lot, waiting for him," Gina Smith said. "And he calls me, and he says, Hey babe, I'm not going to make it to dinner. I've just been stabbed." She dialed 911 and rushed to her husband.

"Me and the police officers ran into Walgreens, and he was laying on the floor in Walgreens," she said. "He had been stabbed multiple times."

Bruce Smith was flown to Medical City Plano to be treated, but he did not survive.

"He was my best friend," Smith cried. "[The suspect] took away my husband, my kids' father, and my grandkids' grandpa." She said Bruce loved his two grandchildren and was a big part of their lives. "We thought he was coming home, we didn't think it would come to this," Gina Smith said.

According to Greenville Police Department a statement was issued indicating the stabbing was believed to have been a road rage incident.

On January 24, 2020 Robert Paul Nichlson of Caddo Mills was arrested and charged with murder in connection to the reported road rage death of Bruce Edward Smith III. Nichlson is being held at the Hunt County Detention Center on a $1 million bond. Murder is a first degree felony, punishable upon conviction by a maximum sentence of 5-99 years to life in prison.

Nichlson filed a writ of habeas corpus, seeking the appointment of a defense attorney.

January 31, 2020 Judge Keli Aiken appointed Greenville attorney Cynthia L. Braddy to the case.

April 24, 2020 Hunt County Grand Jury issues formal indictment.

May 11, 2020 Nichlson was formally arraigned on the indictment and entered a plea of not guilty to the charge of murder. Judge Andrew Bench accepted the plea and schedule an interim hearing for June 17, 2020.

​Nichlson's next court date is October 8, 2020

Sources:
Greenville Herald  Banner

WFAA

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