In the late evening of November 25, 2019, in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, 31-year-old Richard Jackson was shot and killed. The incident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on Cooper Street, where city police discovered Jackson with multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Witnesses reported hearing several gunshots, with one neighbor recalling three distinct shots and the sound of a car speeding away.
The investigation into the shooting was handled by the Pennsylvania State
Police. Their efforts quickly generated numerous leads and involved interviews with several witnesses. This led to the arrest of 24-year-old Javonte Simmons of Beaver Falls in connection with the homicide. Simmons was taken into custody and charged with criminal homicide. He was subsequently jailed in the Beaver County Jail to await his arraignment.
Authorities stated that the motive behind the deadly shooting was drug-related, specifically involving a dispute over marijuana. According to police, the two men were not well acquainted. An investigation utilizing a confidential informant and Facebook messages revealed that the incident was the result of an attempted drug robbery. In messages with the informant, Simmons allegedly admitted to the shooting. In addition to homicide, Simmons also faced charges for illegal possession of a firearm and tampering with evidence.
