Justin Simms Jr

Justin Simms Jr, 10, was shot and killed 03/10/17 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His mother Monique Smith, 30, and brother JuMyrin Smith, 6, were also victims in this home invasion. His sister A’Miya Smith, 12, was shot and survived her injuries.¹

Justin, a 5th grader at Samuel J. Green Charter School, was excited about his perfect-attendance award, scheduled to be presented later that day at the assembly.²

He is survived by father Justin Simms Sr, sisters A’Miya Smith and Diamond Armwood, and grandmother Deborah Smith. He is interred beside his brother and mom at Resthaven Memorial Park in New Orleans.³

Crime Scene

Officers arrived at the 4200 block of Touro Street (between Mandolin and Pelopidas) just after 4am to a horrific scene:

Monique and her sons had been shot several times and were pronounced dead at the scene. A’Miya was shot once in the face, and was in critical condition.⁴ She later survived emergency surgery.

Authorities believe the perpetrator forced his was through the back door between late Thursday night and early Friday morning. He first shot Monique multiple times near her downstairs bedroom, then made his way to the upstairs bedrooms where he shot the children before fleeing the residence unseen. DNA as well as other evidence recovered from the scene.

Joseph Jefferson, NOPD Detective, theorized the murders were a targeted hit, citing the fact that nothing was stolen from the home. He believes the children may have been shot because they either knew or were familiar enough with the perpetrator to identify him.⁵

Detective Jefferson indicated Monique wasn’t dating anyone at the time of the murders. Her husband remains adamant he was in Jackson, Mississippi, working his early morning shift on the garbage truck.⁶ His alibi was later confirmed by police.⁷

Have Information?

New Orleans Police Department is working to solve the JuMyrin Smith triple homicide case and bring their killer(s) to justice. Crimestoppers is currently offering a $10k reward.⁸ If you have information, please call Crimestoppers at (504) 822-1111 or NOPD Cold Case Division (504) 658-5300.

Submit corrections/updates here.

Sources:

1. 4WWL: Woman, 10-year-old and 6-year-old sons killed in Gentilly shooting, published 03/10/17. [↩]
2. 4WWL: Woman, 10-year-old and 6-year-old sons killed in Gentilly shooting, published 03/10/17. [↩]
3. Find A Grave: Justin Simms Jr, accessed 09/14/22. [↩]
4. Gentilly Messenger: Two boys and a woman killed, another woman seriously wounded in shooting inside home on Touro Street, police say, published 03/10/17. [↩]
5. Fox Channel 8 Local First: New suspect sketch in shooting of Gentilly mother and children, aired 02/17/20.[↩]
6. Fox Channel 8 Local First: EXCLUSIVE: Man speaks out about murders of wife, sons in Gentilly, aired 03/16/17. [↩]
7. Nola.com: Husband and father of Gentilly murder victims clocked in at work during killings, police confirm, published 03/17/17. [↩]
8. Crimestoppers GNO, accessed 09/13/22. [↩]