In the spring of 2016, a dispute between two young men in Corinth, Mississippi, ended in tragedy, cutting short the life of 19-year-old Deondre Marque Simmons. A Black/African American male, Simmons was fatally shot on the night of April 26, 2016. The incident occurred just after 9:00 p.m. outside a residence on Cemetery Street following a physical altercation.
Reports from that evening indicate that a confrontation between Simmons and another man escalated dramatically. During the fight, a single gunshot was fired, striking Simmons in the chest. He was quickly transported to the Magnolia Regional Health Center for medical attention, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries. An autopsy was later scheduled in Jackson to determine the precise cause of death.
In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the individual involved in the altercation with Simmons turned himself in to the Corinth Police Department. Authorities later identified the suspect as 21-year-old Darius Gaines of Bunch Street. An investigation into the events leading up to the shooting suggested that the dispute stemmed from a prior incident between the two men.
Following the investigation, Darius Gaines was arrested and charged with manslaughter in connection with Deondre Simmons' death. His bond was set at $100,000. The case was then handed over to a grand jury for further legal proceedings, a standard step to determine if there is enough evidence to proceed to trial. The community mourned the loss of the young man, with funeral services held at the Lighthouse and his burial at Rienzi Cemetery.
