On the rainy evening of March 29, 2022, 32-year-old David Joseph Rowe and his girlfriend drove to a Phillips 66 Minit Mart located on South Noland Road in Independence, Missouri. Hoping to purchase cigarettes, the couple arrived around 11:00 p.m. only to find the business was closed. While in the parking lot, they observed a man nearby who appeared to be arguing loudly on a cellphone.
Noting the heavy downpour, Rowe maneuvered his Mazda SUV closer to the individual with the intention of offering him a ride to get out of the weather.
The encounter quickly turned hostile when the man, later identified as 28-year-old Aaron L. Simmons Jr. of Kansas City, reacted aggressively to the vehicle’s approach. According to witness statements provided to investigators, Simmons believed the car had nearly struck him and began shouting threats at the couple. When Rowe rolled down his window to explain his charitable intent, the situation escalated. Simmons allegedly threatened to shoot, prompting Rowe to exit his vehicle and challenge the man. In the ensuing confrontation, Simmons fired multiple rounds, striking Rowe four times in the upper body before fleeing the scene on foot.
Emergency responders arrived shortly after the shooting to find Rowe lifeless on the pavement near his vehicle; he was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives interviewed Rowe's girlfriend, who had witnessed the entire altercation and provided a description of the shooter. The investigation gained momentum the following day when surveillance footage of the suspect was broadcast on local news, leading to an anonymous tip. The tipster reported overhearing Simmons discussing the shooting. Police set up surveillance on Simmons’ residence and arrested him as he left the house. A subsequent search of his home yielded a 9mm Glock handgun, which forensic analysis matched to the shell casings recovered from the gas station. Simmons was subsequently charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.
