Shooting victims' funeral today

A makeshift memorial of flowers stands at the curb by the Dale City house where a mother and son were murdered last week. Cards filled with expressions of grief and sorrow are illuminated by flood lights.

Today, family and friends say goodbye to Jean Smith, 39, and James "Jim" Smith, 19, who were killed Dec. 19 in their home at 13622 Langford Court.

Less than 72 hours after the slayings, police charged 17-year-old Xavier Pinckney and two alleged accomplices in the crime. The killings and the arrests left the community reeling.

Pinckney lived less than a third of a mile from the Smith home. Police say the mother and son -- well-known and respected in Dale City -- were the victims of a burglary gone wrong.

The four surviving members of the immediate Smith family are expected to be greeted by friends, relatives and hundreds of others at 11 a .m. today at Holy Family Catholic Church in Dale City.

So many people may come to the church that there may not be enough room to seat them all, said Marty Nohe, Smith family spokesman.

Jean Smith began attending Mass at Holy Family when she was 14 years old. It was the first church her parents took her to after they moved to the area from New York state.

Because she remained active in the church throughout the years, it is the most proper place to have the service, said the Rev. Donald J. Planty Jr., church pastor.

She was also active in the community and worked with many civic organizations. She served on the Prince William County Park Authority and ran for a seat on the school board.

She spent many hours volunteering at the schools her children attended, like Enterprise Elementary and most recently C.D. Hylton High School.

Jim Smith was involved in scholastic sports in middle school, ironically the same place he met his alleged killer, his family said.

In high school he wrestled and sang in the choir.

During the just-completed first semester of his sophomore year at James Madison University, he became a member of the all male a cappella group "Exit 245."

The group had just finished a tour singing at high schools in the greater New York City and Boston areas, said Matthew Beck, also a member of the group.

Following the funeral service, family members will bury Jean and Jim Smith at Stonewall Memory Gardens in Manassas.

The family will then invite the public to an "Irish" wake back at the church starting at 4 p.m.

Nohe said that because of the number of people expected to attend, there may not be enough food to go around.

"So many people have said 'If there is anything we can do, please let us know' and this is that one thing. We need food to be donated," Nohe said.

Jean and Jim Smith are survived by Rick Smith, 40, Sarah Smith, 22, Connor Smith, 16, and an elementary school-aged son.

As the family prepares for the final goodbyes, Prince William police are just beginning what they have called the hardest part of the case.

They searched the homes of all three suspects prior to arresting them. In one home, they found a laptop computer, a blue bag, a .22-caliber rifle, a .22-caliber handgun and ammunition -- all taken from the Smith home after the murders, according to court documents.

Investigators are looking into the possibility that those guns were used to kill Jean and Jim Smith.

A ballistics test that may come back next week could confirm the theory, said Prince William police Maj. Ray Colgan.

Police claim Pinckney stole those items from the Smith house and stashed them at another Dale City home, located at 4733 Koester Drive, the night after the killings.

On Tuesday, they charged 19-year-old Jonathan Jackson, who lives in the house with his mother, with accessory to murder.

Police said if he would have come forward, he could have led them to Pinckney sooner.

Residents who live near the Pinckney home at 13736 Langstone Drive in Dale City said they were not surprised when they heard it was Xavier Pinckney who was charged in the murders.

Police have acknowledged the 17-year-old's record of burglary charges in the neighborhood.

Pinckney faces a hearing in juvenile court next month, where prosecutors will ask that he be tried as an adult.

Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.