Williams Patrick Simms, a 43-year-old man, was tragically shot and killed on October 24, 2015, in Los Angeles, California. The incident occurred around 10 p.m. in the 600 block of East 83rd Street in the Florence neighborhood. Simms was attending a party in front of a home when two Latino men approached him. According to the Los Angeles County coroner’s records, one of the men asked Simms, "Where you from?" before at least one of them opened fire.
The assailants fled east toward Stanford Avenue after the shooting. Simms was pronounced dead at the scene at 10:14 p.m.
The investigation into Simms' death was in its preliminary stages at the time, with the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) indicating that the crime appeared to be gang-related rather than racially motivated. LAPD Detective Chris Barling noted that the suspects were believed to be gang members, and the shooting was likely a result of gang rivalry. Despite the initial leads, the case remained unsolved, and the police urged anyone with information to contact the Criminal Gang Homicide Division or Crime Stoppers to provide anonymous tips.
In the aftermath of the shooting, there were no immediate arrests or identified suspects. However, there were reports of a potential suspect being dropped off unconscious at a California hospital with gunshot wounds to the upper torso the morning after Simms' murder. This individual was brought in by an unknown black car, raising suspicions about their involvement in the incident. Despite this lead, the police did not publicly confirm any connections between the hospitalized individual and Simms' murder.
The community and Simms' family were left in mourning, with many expressing their grief and memories of Simms on social media and local news platforms. The case highlighted the ongoing issue of gang violence in Los Angeles and the challenges law enforcement faces in solving such crimes. The investigation into Williams Patrick Simms' death remains open, with authorities continuing to seek information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the perpetrators.
