On the evening of February 1, 2024, a burst of gunfire in the 1100 block of Lafayette Street in Houma, Louisiana, left a young man dead and a teenager wounded. The deceased was identified as 20-year-old Terrance Scott. He was discovered by Houma Police at approximately 5:45 p.m. suffering from a gunshot wound to his upper body. A second victim, a 14-year-old male, was also found at the scene with a gunshot wound to his upper torso.
Both were rushed to a local medical facility, but Scott succumbed to his injuries. The 14-year-old was treated and was expected to recover.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a suspect: Terrance Simms. In a troubling turn of events, Simms was employed as a Juvenile Direct Care Associate at the Terrebonne Parish Juvenile Detention Center. It was there that he had befriended the 14-year-old victim. After the teen's release from the facility, the two had been in communication regarding the sale of a firearm. They had arranged to meet on Lafayette Street to complete the transaction, and the 14-year-old was accompanied by Terrance Scott.
For reasons that remain unclear, the planned firearm sale escalated into a violent exchange of gunfire between the parties involved. In the aftermath, Simms fled the scene. However, it wasn't long before he turned himself into the authorities and was taken into custody without incident.
As a result of the investigation, Terrance Simms was arrested on one count of second-degree murder and one count of attempted second-degree murder. He is currently being held at the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex. The 14-year-old who was with Scott was also arrested on a charge of attempted second-degree murder and has been housed at a juvenile detention center outside of the parish. While arrests have been made, the motive behind the deadly shooting is still under investigation.
