In the small town of Ball, Louisiana, the morning of March 5, 2026, was shattered by an act of violence that claimed the life of 51-year-old Renina Simmons. Her death, which occurred at a gas station located at 5831 Monroe Highway, was officially classified as a homicide. The Rapides Parish Coroner's Office confirmed that Simmons was pronounced deceased at 11:04 a.m. from a gunshot wound. The incident prompted a swift response from the Ball Police Department, who requested assistance from the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office, bringing deputies, detectives, and the Crime Scene Unit to the scene along U.S. Highway 165.
The investigation into Simmons' death quickly focused on a single suspect, 39-year-old Shamond Lamar Sanders. Authorities described Sanders as a Black male, approximately 5 feet 11 inches tall, weighing around 220 pounds, and bald. Law enforcement believes he may be traveling in a dark gray 2023 Nissan Altima with Louisiana license plate 990JGZ and have warned the public that he should be considered armed and dangerous. As the search for Sanders intensified, the U.S. Marshals joined the effort to bring him into custody. Investigators have been working tirelessly, following up on the few leads they have received, though none have yet proven significant.
This was not the first time Renina Simmons' name had appeared in public records in connection with law enforcement. In 2017, under the name Renina Letricia Wortham, she was sentenced to two years and four months in federal prison for theft of government funds. This was related to the attempted theft of a multi-million dollar U.S. Treasury check. Despite this past conviction, her recent and violent death has left the community of Ball seeking answers and justice. Authorities continue to urge anyone with information regarding the whereabouts of Shamond Lamar Sanders to come forward as the investigation remains active.
