In the fading light of a Tuesday evening in Perry, Georgia, on November 16, 2021, the life of 19-year-old Quadarrien Devaughn Simmons was tragically cut short. He was a passenger in a car on Coventry Circle when a firearm discharged within the vehicle around 10 p.m., leading to a chaotic and fatal series of events.
That night, officers from the Perry Police Department were dispatched to the emergency room of Perry Hospital after a report of two individuals with gunshot wounds. Upon their arrival, they found both Quadarrien Simmons and 19-year-old Tyrese Brown suffering from gunshot injuries. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Simmons succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. Brown, a resident of Fort Valley, was treated for a gunshot wound to his hand and was subsequently released.
The investigation into the shooting revealed a grim picture of recklessness. According to authorities, Brown and 17-year-old Kiasaun Bennett of Perry were in the backseat of the vehicle, passing a gun 'back and forth' and toying with it. During this exchange, the firearm accidentally discharged. The bullet traveled through the back of the front passenger seat, striking and killing Simmons.
Following the incident, both Tyrese Brown and Kiasaun Bennett were arrested. They were each charged with reckless conduct and involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Quadarrien Simmons. The vehicle in which the fatal shooting occurred belonged to a 24-year-old from Warner Robins who was also present at the time but was not immediately implicated in the charges. The specific owner of the firearm was not publicly disclosed in the initial investigation.
