On June 19, 2023, 31-year-old Shekira Mone't Simpson, a mother of six, was fatally shot in Port Arthur, Texas. The tragic incident began in the 2800 block of 15th Street, where Simpson was shot by 38-year-old Eric Martin, with whom she had been in a relationship for approximately three months.
Following the shooting, Martin placed Simpson's body in her Hyundai SUV and drove to the 1600 block of Vicksburg Avenue, where he shot Leon Davis in the back.
Davis survived the attack and was transported to a local hospital in stable condition.
Martin then fled the scene with Simpson's body still in the vehicle. Authorities issued alerts to neighboring states, leading to his apprehension later that evening in Lafayette, Louisiana. Upon arrest, Simpson's body was found in the passenger seat of the SUV.
At the time of his arrest, Martin was serving a three-year supervised release following a 63-month federal prison sentence for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was extradited to Texas on June 29, 2023, and placed in federal custody in Beaumont. Martin faces charges including murder for Simpson's death and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon for the shooting of Davis.
Simpson was remembered as a loving mother dedicated to her six children. She graduated with honors from Richard Milburn Academy in 2009 and had recently completed her first semester in psychology at Houston Community College. Her funeral service was held on July 1, 2023, at First Sixth Street Baptist Church in Port Arthur, followed by burial at Live Oak Memorial Park.
