In the late hours of October 24, 2025, an altercation near Richwood High School in Monroe, Louisiana, set in motion a tragic chain of events. A few days later, in the pre-dawn hours of October 28, the quiet of a residence on Grammont Street was violently shattered. It was there that 25-year-old Jaborris Simpson, a male devoted to his family, was spending time with his lifelong friend, Jamal Bosley, and his own two-year-old daughter, Jhersi Simpson.
A graduate of Richwood High School, Jaborris was remembered as a well-mannered and respectful young man who cherished his role as a father.
Monroe Police officers responded to a call regarding a shooting at approximately 2:56 a.m. Upon their arrival at the apartment, they discovered a horrific scene. The back door had been kicked in, and inside lay the bodies of Jaborris, Jamal, and little Jhersi. All three had been shot and were pronounced deceased at the scene. Investigators noted that the home had been ransacked, and a PlayStation was missing. The senseless triple homicide, especially the death of a toddler, sent a shockwave of grief and outrage through the Monroe community.
The investigation quickly gained momentum, aided by tips from the public. Within a day, authorities arrested 24-year-old Travis Tyrone Payton. He was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, home invasion, and criminal conspiracy. Police stated the motive was likely retribution for the fight that had occurred days earlier. Payton was a convicted felon with a history of 11 prior arrests and was on probation at the time of the killings. A second suspect, 24-year-old Cameron Criner, was also arrested in connection with the murders and charged with first-degree murder.
In the wake of the tragedy, the community gathered to mourn the three lives lost. A joint funeral service was held at the Monroe Civic Center, where hundreds of grieving family members and friends paid their respects. In a poignant display of their inseparable bond, Jaborris and his daughter Jhersi were laid to rest in the same casket, which was adorned with their photographs. As the families continue to seek justice, the case against Travis Payton and Cameron Criner is slated to be presented to a grand jury.
