In the early hours of March 14, 2020, Keon Dontavious Simmons, a 27-year-old Black male, was fatally shot in Phenix City, Alabama. The incident, which cut his life short just two days after his birthday, unfolded inside an unlicensed nightclub. Simmons was a resident of Phenix City and was a member of the Pine Hill Missionary Baptist Church. He was a father to two sons, Ke’Edric Simmons and Kashmir Burks.
The Phenix City Police Department's investigation into the homicide led them to
identify a suspect in the shooting. The investigation utilized surveillance footage, witness statements, and evidence gathered from the scene to piece together the events of that night. While the exact motive was not immediately clear, investigators suggested the shooting may have stemmed from a personal conflict.
Authorities eventually arrested Jaquandre Bowen, a man from Columbus, Georgia, in connection with Simmons' death. Bowen was charged with murder and his trial began in August 2023. During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence and called witnesses to testify, including a cousin of the defendant who was present at the nightclub during the shooting. The victim's mother, Angela Sharp, was present for the trial, expressing her long wait for justice for her son.
