On a day that would otherwise be forgotten, December 28, 1987, the town of Russellville, Arkansas, was rocked by a series of violent acts that left an indelible mark on the community. James David 'J.D.' Chaffin, a 33-year-old man, became an unsuspecting victim in a tragic chain of events that unfolded across the city. His life was cut short when he was fatally shot at the Taylor Oil Company.
Chaffin, an off-duty fireman, was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, entering the building as another man was being targeted.
The perpetrator of this senseless violence was identified as Ronald Gene Simmons, a 47-year-old resident of nearby Dover. Armed with two revolvers, Simmons embarked on a shooting spree that began at a local law firm, where he killed a 24-year-old secretary named Kathy Kendrick. From there, he proceeded to the Taylor Oil Company with the intention of settling a score with a former employer. It was during this confrontation that Chaffin was shot and killed instantly. Simmons's rampage continued at a convenience store and a trucking company, leaving several others wounded before he finally surrendered to the police.
The horror of that day was compounded when authorities investigating Simmons discovered a gruesome scene at his home. There, they found the bodies of five of his family members. It was later determined that Simmons had murdered a total of fourteen family members prior to his public shooting spree. Simmons was subsequently arrested and faced charges for the numerous murders he committed. He was ultimately convicted and, at his own request, received the death penalty for his crimes.
