April 23, 2019
The Grand Jury
in Richmond has handed
down a charge of voluntary manslaughter against Jeremy Z. Simmons,
31, of the 600 block S. Allen Avenue for a fatal shooting that occurred
during a commercial robbery in the city last February.
At approximately 7:43
a.m., Saturday, February 2nd, RPD officers were called to
investigate a report of a person down on the rear porch of a residence in the 2000
block of West Cary
Street. Officers located the body of Joseph A. Harris, III, 43, of the 300 block of East Jerald Street, Henrico. He had been shot.
Street. Officers located the body of Joseph A. Harris, III, 43, of the 300 block of East Jerald Street, Henrico. He had been shot.
During their investigation, RPD detectives determined that several hours earlier, at approximately 3:00 a.m., Harris had robbed a convenience store in the 2100 block of West Main Street where Simmons was working as a clerk. During the robbery, Simmons fired several shots at Harris inside the store from his personal handgun. Simmons pursued Harris outside the store and fired several more shots as Harris fled the area.
The detectives presented their evidence to the Grand Jury earlier this month, which returned the following felony charges against Simmons:
·
Voluntary
Manslaughter
·
Discharging
a Firearm in a Public Place
