Michael Juan Smith, 31, was one of 29 individuals who were indicted following a riot at Lee Correctional Institution South Carolina. During the riot in April 2018, 7 inmates were killed and 22 were injured during what officials say was the worst US prison riot in 25 years. Smith is being charged with first-degree assault and battery by mob in the first degree resulting in death, and prisoner carrying a concealed weapon and criminal conspiracy in relation to the riot. Smith intends to argue self-defense but not under the guise of stand your ground. Smith will need to prove there was imminent danger to prove self-defense. At the time of the riot, Smith was in prison for attempted murder and weapons convictions for a shooting in Columbia's Five Points that paralyzed former University of South Carolina student Martha Childress. Smith's sentence and conviction for that case was thrown out in July 2020 by the South Carolina Supreme Court who said he deserved a new trial.