Brookhaven Assistant Fire Chief Fred Smith Jr.’s suspension wasextended indefinitely Tuesday, pending resolution of chargesrelated to a Thanksgiving Day shooting involving the off-duty cityofficial.

Smith, who has been charged with aggravated assault and shootinginto a vehicle in the incident, was suspended without pay for oneweek last Monday until the board could learn more about thesituation. Aldermen took up the matter again last night during anapproximately 30-minute executive session.

After the closed meeting, the board voted unanimously to suspendSmith without pay indefinitely until the criminal matter isresolved. City Attorney Joe Fernald said Smith’s situation would bereviewed again at that time.

“When this matter is resolved, he will be afforded a fullhearing in order to determine what his future with the city willbe,” Fernald said.

When contacted this morning, Smith had no comment on the board’saction.

Smith, 50, of 300 Greenwood Lane, was arrested and charged withaggravated assault and shooting into a vehicle after authoritiesresponded Thursday to a domestic disturbance at the Greenwood Laneresidence, according to a statement from the Lincoln CountySheriff’s Department.

The vehicle had been shot into several times. It was occupied bySmith’s stepdaughter and her relatives, including two children,ages 7 and 4, according to the statement.

District Attorney Dee Bates said last week that Smith’s caselikely would be presented at the next Lincoln County grand jurysession in February. If convicted, Smith faces up to five years inprison on the shooting into a vehicle charge and up to 20 years onthe aggravated assault charge.