Shooting motive a mystery

Authorities seeking ‘person of interest’ in Boynton Beach killing

Deputies say they are trying to figure out why someone shot and killed a Boynton Beach man who was driving on Interstate 95 — one of two shootings on the highway that authorities say are related.

The first shooting Wednesday, near the southbound exit ramp of Gateway Boulevard and Interstate 95, left Antoine Smith, 31, dead.

Investigators have ruled out road rage as a cause, and what led to the shooting remains under investigation, Palm Beach sheriff’s spokeswoman Teri Barbera said.

Authorities have not said why they ruled out road rage, nor have they said how they think the two shootings are related.

On Thursday, detectives released a sketch of a “person of interest” who may have information. The gunman remains at large.

A woman who identified herself as Smith’s cousin, Chante, declining to give her last name, said she last saw Smith on Christmas when he unexpectedly showed up and surprised his family with presents.

She said she hopes the person who killed her cousin turns himself in.

“You get to wake up today while we have to sit with

broken hearts,” she said as she began crying. “You get to live your life and we’re only stuck with memories. That’s all we got, memories.”

The first shooting happened about 11:15 a.m. Boynton Beach Police were called out to the exit ramp for a crash and found that a white SUV Smith was driving had slammed into a barrier wall.

Officers checked on Smith and discovered he was shot. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Investigators said a passenger in a small gray SUV shot Smith. Shortly later, just north of Lantana Road, bullets hit another car, but that driver was not hurt.

A stolen SUV that matched the description of the shooter’s SUV was found, but it’s unknown if the SUV was used in the shooting, deputies said.

Sun Sentinel news partner WPEC-CBS12 reported that Smith’s mother spoke with her son over the phone moments before he was shot. She was stuck in traffic and planned to call him back but never got the chance.

Authorities ask anyone who may have seen anything while driving north or south on I-95 near Gateway Boulevard around 11:20 to 11:40 p.m., to call Sheriff’s Detective Joe Greco at 561-688-4054 or Crime Stoppers at 800-458-8477.

“You get to live your life and we’re only stuck with memories.” Shooting victim Antoine Smith’s cousin

Investigators seek this man

SMITH FAMILY/COURTESY Antoine Smith, 31, was shot in his car Wednesday near the southbound exit ramp of Gateway Boulevard and Interstate 95.