In the early morning hours of March 10, 2017, a horrific act of violence shattered the peace of a New Orleans neighborhood and claimed the life of 30-year-old Monique Juanita Smith. An intruder broke into her home on the corner of Touro and Mandolin streets and shot her multiple times in her bedroom. The gunman then went upstairs and shot her three children.
Responding to a chilling 911 call from Smith's 12-year-old daughter, A'miya, police arrived at a scene of unimaginable horror.
They discovered the bodies of Monique and her two young sons, 10-year-old Justin Simms Jr. and 6-year-old Jumyrin Smith. All three had been fatally shot in the head as they slept. Miraculously, A'miya survived a gunshot wound to the face and was able to call for help. She reportedly witnessed the shooting of her younger brother.
At the time of the murders, Monique was separated from her husband and the father of her children, Justin Simms, Sr. He was in Mississippi for work when the tragic events unfolded. The motive for this brutal crime remains unknown, and the New Orleans Police Department has been tight-lipped about the details of the ongoing investigation.
Despite the passage of time, no arrests have been made in the triple homicide. Nearly three years after the killings, authorities released a sketch of a person of interest they believe may have been involved and could be familiar with the family and their home. The case remains open as investigators continue to seek answers and justice for Monique and her two sons. A cash reward of $10,000 has been offered by Crimestoppers for any information leading to the arrest of the killer.
