On May 1, 2023, Cleveland Clay, a 36-year-old Black male, was fatally shot in Brooklyn, New York. The incident occurred in a parking lot in East New York, a neighborhood known for a stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue referred to as the “Penn Track,” an area recognized as an open-air commercial sex market. Clay was shot multiple times at close range and succumbed to his injuries later that day.
The events leading to Clay's death began a day earlier, on April 30, 2023, over a dispute
involving a woman. Authorities alleged that Omari Scott, also known as “Prince” and “Sir Prince,” and Michael Simmons, also known as “Victory,” were involved in sex trafficking in the area. A conflict arose when a woman working under Scott’s control attempted to leave and work for Clay, who also had women working for him in prostitution on the Penn Track. Scott reacted violently to this, reportedly dragging the woman by her hair into his car. In a recorded call, Scott was heard saying he was "about to kill this b----!”
The following morning, on May 1, 2023, Scott and Simmons were seen on video in a heated argument with Clay. Less than three hours later, surveillance footage captured Simmons walking to the parking lot where he shot Clay at least five times. Simmons was then seen on video at a nearby laundromat telling Scott, "He's down... he's down!"
Following an investigation, both Omari Scott, 43, of Brooklyn, and Michael Simmons, 40, of Pennsylvania, were arrested and faced a seven-count indictment which included charges of murder in the course of sex trafficking and sex trafficking by force. In January 2025, Michael Simmons pleaded guilty to murder in the course of sex trafficking and sex trafficking of a woman and is awaiting sentencing. After a two-week trial, Omari Scott was convicted by a federal jury of murder in the course of sex trafficking. Prior to the trial, on May 16, 2025, Scott had pleaded guilty to two counts of promoting prostitution and sex trafficking of another woman. For the murder charge, both men faced sentences up to life in prison and were eligible for the death penalty. Scott's conviction marked the first time a defendant was convicted of murder in the course of sex trafficking after a trial in the nation.
