Monique Juanita Smith

Monique Juanita Smith, 30, was shot and killed 03/10/17 inside her Gentilly residence in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Her sons JuMyrin Smith, 6, and Justin Simms Jr, 10, were also killed in the home invasion. Her daughter A’Miya Smith, 12, was shot and survived her injuries.¹

She is described as being a hardworking single mom, estranged from her husband since 2016, who spent most weekends hanging out with her children. At the time of her death she’d been employed as head cook at Ted’s Frostop Diner for four years.

Monique was looking forward to that day’s award ceremony at Samuel J. Green Charter School where Justin, a 5th grader, was to be recognized for perfect-attendance. A’Miya, a 7th grader, was to be recognized for perfect attendance and for self-determination.² She was also anticipating the coming weekend when her mother would be moving in.³

Monique is survived by husband Justin Simms Sr, daughter A’Miya Smith, stepdaughter Diamond Armwood, mother Deborah Smith and brother Jonathan Smith. She’s interred beside her sons at Resthaven Memorial Park in New Orleans, LA.⁴

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.⁵ 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.⁶

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.⁷ His alibi was later confirmed by police.⁸

Have Information?

New Orleans Police Department is working to solve the Monique Juanita Smith triple homicide case and bring their killer(s) to justice. Crimestoppers is currently offering a $10k reward.⁹ 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. Nola.com: Gentilly killings: For Monique Smith, ‘her children were everything to her’, published 03/10/17. [↩]
4. Find A Grave: Monique Juanita Smith, accessed 09/13/22. [↩]
5. 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. [↩]
6. Fox Channel 8 Local First: New suspect sketch in shooting of Gentilly mother and children, aired 02/17/20.[↩]
7. Fox Channel 8 Local First: EXCLUSIVE: Man speaks out about murders of wife, sons in Gentilly, aired 03/16/17. [↩]
8. Nola.com: Husband and father of Gentilly murder victims clocked in at work during killings, police confirm, published 03/17/17. [↩]
9. Crimestoppers GNO, accessed 09/13/22. [↩]