Man charged in grisly killing due in court

Tyree Lincoln Smith, the man accused by police of hacking to death a Bridgeport man and cannibalizing part of his body, on Juan. 12 slit his wrists in the CVS pharmacy at 1968 Black Rock Turnpike, police said Thursday, and then referred the case to the Greater Bridgeport Community Mental Health Center. less Tyree Lincoln Smith, the man accused by police of hacking to death a Bridgeport man and cannibalizing part of his body, on Juan. 12 slit his wrists in the CVS pharmacy at 1968 Black Rock Turnpike, police said ... more Photo: File Photo Photo: File Photo Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Man charged in grisly killing due in court 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

BRIDGEPORT -- Security is expected to be tight Wednesday morning as Tyree Lincoln Smith, who police say killed a homeless city man with an ax before cannibalizing his body, is arraigned in Superior Court.

On Tuesday afternoon, police detectives brought the 35-year-old Smith back from Florida where he had been arrested. He is scheduled to be arraigned in the Golden Hill Street courthouse on one count of murder Wednesday morning. If convicted, he could face up to 60 years in prison.

In addition to a number of news media from Connecticut and other states that have expressed a desire to be at Wednesday's hearing, a large number of people in the community said they will attend.

Smith is accused of hacking homeless city resident Angel "Tun Tun" Gonzalez to death with an ax, then eating one of Gonzalez's eyeballs and part of his brain over Smith's cousin's grave in the Lakeview Cemetery.

Last Tuesday night, Smith, who grew up in Ansonia, was arrested at a female friend's home in Lynn Haven, Fla. He is represented by the public defender.

Smith's cousin, Nicole Rabb, who grew up with Smith, has been acknowledged by police as their main witness against her cousin.

In an interview with the Connecticut Post, she lamented that she didn't act immediately to stop her cousin hours before the death of Gonzalez after he told her he was going to kill someone. But she explained at the time she didn't think what he was threatening was anything but crazy rantings she was used to hearing from him.

"Who the hell would think you could be related to someone like this?" she said.

"I mean, I've heard of Hannibal Lecter, but I never thought I could have someone in my family who would actually eat someone."

Contact Daniel Tepfer at 203-330-6308 or dtepfer@ctpost.com. Follow him on twitter.com/dantepfer