In the spring of 2023, the life of 16-year-old Shawn Simms was tragically cut short in a burst of gunfire that also claimed the life of another young man. On the evening of April 20th, in the 5100 block of St. Claude Avenue in New Orleans' Ninth Ward, Simms and 20-year-old Sidney Victorian were shot. The male victims were rushed to a nearby hospital, but neither survived their injuries.
The incident was part of a grim tally of violence that shook the city.
The New Orleans Police Department launched an investigation into the double homicide. Their efforts led to a significant breakthrough a week later. As part of a broader operation that resulted in four arrests for three separate homicides, investigators identified and apprehended the individuals they believed were responsible for the deaths of Simms and Victorian.
Two 18-year-olds, Le'Marion 'Gee' Gibson and Jamari Gleason, were taken into custody and each faced two counts of second-degree murder. The investigation also led to the arrest of a 17-year-old male, whose identity was not released due to his age, on a charge of accessory to second-degree murder. The arrests brought a measure of progress in the case, though the motive for the deadly shooting was not immediately made public.
