In the early morning hours of a Wednesday in Annapolis, Maryland, the life of 36-year-old John Simms Jr. was tragically cut short. On March 19, 2025, at approximately 7:40 a.m., gunshots shattered the morning calm in the 100 block of Clay Street. When police arrived, they discovered Simms suffering from fatal gunshot wounds. An 11-year-old child was also found at the scene with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the foot.
The incident unfolded at a school bus stop where a dozen
students were waiting. The violence reportedly stemmed from a dispute that began the previous day. According to Simms's wife, the couple had confronted a man and his girlfriend about their child allegedly bullying the Simms' child. The following morning, the argument escalated into a physical altercation. Investigators reported that the confrontation involved a fight and the use of mace before a gun was drawn.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the argument turned violent. John Simms Jr. was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. The 11-year-old bystander was transported to a hospital for treatment of his injuries and was expected to survive. The shooting left the community shaken, particularly as it occurred in the presence of numerous children.
Authorities quickly identified a suspect in the fatal shooting, 31-year-old Roscoe Jerome Jones of Oxon Hill. A warrant was issued for his arrest, charging him with murder and assault. Law enforcement, including the U.S. Marshals Service, launched a search for Jones, who was considered armed and dangerous and had a history of violent crime. On Monday, April 7, 2025, Roscoe Jerome Jones was apprehended in Washington, D.C. He is facing charges including first and second-degree murder for the death of John Simms Jr.
