In the early morning hours of July 2, 2017, a long-simmering dispute between neighbors in Bridgeport, Connecticut, tragically escalated, ending the life of 44-year-old Ronald Simmons, a Black male. The conflict, which reportedly began over a parking space, had created ongoing tension between the families involved. On that fateful morning, around 2:15 a.m., the animosity erupted into a physical confrontation.
The altercation initially involved female members of both families in the
parking lot of their State Street apartment building. Simmons stepped in to protect his stepdaughter after she was allegedly attacked by the wife and daughters of his neighbor, Waldo "Abel" Gonzalez. As the women were being separated, Gonzalez emerged and confronted Simmons. Witnesses reported that Gonzalez pulled a handgun from his ankle area, shouted, "You want to play?" and fired a single shot. The bullet struck Simmons in the torso.
Struck by the gunfire, Simmons staggered from the parking lot onto Fremont Street, where he collapsed. Emergency services were called, and he was rushed to a local hospital, but the wound proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead. The shooting marked the city's 15th homicide of the year. Bridgeport police detectives quickly began an investigation, gathering statements from witnesses at the scene who described the escalating feud that led to the deadly encounter.
In the weeks following the shooting, police identified Waldo "Abel" Gonzalez as the primary suspect. He was arrested and charged with murder. Gonzalez's wife and two daughters were also taken into custody on lesser charges related to the initial altercation. The case proceeded through the legal system, and Gonzalez ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter with a firearm. In March 2024, he was sentenced to 18 years in prison for the shooting death of Ronald Simmons.
