Family members identified a man killed Monday morning (April 1) near an Algiers store as Jonathan Simmons, a 35-year-old father of four.
Simmons had one daughter and three sons, one of them just 9 months old, said his brother, David Simmons, who arrived at the scene in the 1600 block of Newton Street after receiving a call from another family member.
The shooting occurred about 8:40 a.m. outside of Lawson’s Grocery and Deli, along a short stretch of Newton Street that’s home to several small businesses. Responding officers found the victim with multiple gunshot wounds, and he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the New Orleans Police Department.
‘I gotta see my brother,’ man says at scene of Algiers homicide
A small crowd watched as officers set up a body screen at the passenger-side door of a silver-gray sedan, which was stopped as though pulling out of the store’s parking lot.
David Simmons said his brother had been visiting the store when the shooting occurred. He was at work when he received a call from a cousin about the fatal shooting.
Roughly a dozen people were standing near the scene when David Simmons approached the police tape, saying, “I gotta see my brother, man.”
Crowd members helped keep a visibly upset Simmons back from the scene as an officer explained “they have to process it.” One of the men in the crowd escorted David Simmons away from the crime scene tape and then explained what onlookers thought happened. Another man reminded him that Lawson’s has surveillance cameras.
When asked if the store has video footage, NOPD spokesman Gary Scheets said officers were reviewing evidence.
On the other side of the cordoned-off scene, at Diana and Wagner streets, another small crowd watched police examine the area, often focused on the silver-gray sedan.
A man who identified himself as a cousin of Jonathan Simmons said another relative of his had been killed in Algiers on Christmas Day.
The man, who declined to give his name, said his brother, 48-year-old Leon Bush, was the man found fatally shot about 5:20 p.m. Dec. 25 near the intersection of General Meyer Avenue and Casimire Street. Bush, of Violet, was in town visiting for Christmas.
Monday morning, the man said he had been going to get breakfast and saw the crime scene. He then heard from people around the neighborhood that his cousin, Jonathan Simmons, had been killed.
‘He was the protector of our family,’ sister says after man fatally shot Christmas night in Algiers
As investigators finished processing the scene, the victim’s brother, David Simmons, remained near the police tape on Newton Street, along with some supporters. Asked about his brother’s personality, David Simmons‘ face brightened a bit, a slight smile appearing. He described the victim as a playful person.
The Orleans Parish Coroner’s Office has not released the victim’s official cause of death or confirmed his name, pending completion of an autopsy and notification of family.
NOPD Homicide Detective Daniel Hiatt is leading the ongoing investigation into Monday morning’s fatal shooting and can be reached at 504-658-5300 with any information. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 and toll-free at 1-877-903-7867.
Laura McKnight covers crime and breaking news for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune and can be reached at 504-655-6571 and lmcknight@nola.com.
Chelsea Brasted contributed to this report.
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