Security was increased outside of the Wilson County
Courthouse Tuesday, 24 hours after a woman was critically injured in a shooting
that law enforcement says was motivated by revenge for the death of a friend.
“I’m glad they did increase security because yesterday was
the scariest day of my life,” Kimberly Simmons said. “It really scared me to
death.”
Simmons was inside the courthouse to follow the court proceedings
in her son’s murder. LaDarrius Simmons, 16, was killed late last month. Jamel
Hines, now 18 years old, is charged with his murder and was due in court
yesterday, according to Simmons.
“We were just waiting on [Hines] to come out so we can see
what was going on with the case,” Simmons said. “Before they could even bring him
out, my sister was like, you heard gunshots? I said, ‘Oh my God.’”
Outside, law enforcement says Abdul Mustafa,
21, was waiting on a nearby bench for LaToya Lucas, 19, to arrive. Lucas faces
her own charges in connection to Simmons’ death of obstruction of justice and
accessory after the fact.
As she walked up the steps of the courthouse Monday morning,
law enforcement says Mustafa shot her multiple times.
Mustafa is believed to be friends with LaDarrius Simmons,
according to photos he’s posted on his Facebook page. He’s also posted several
messages on Facebook including memorials for LaDarrius, saying the 16-year-old “inspired
me to be the best big homie a man could ever be.” He also posted expletives in
reference to Simmons’ alleged killer, Hines.
Law enforcement believes Monday’s shooting of Lucas was in retaliation for Simmons’ death.
Kimberly Simmons says the first time she had seen Mustafa
was at a memorial balloon release for her son. She says the two must be friends
because he is not a relative of theirs.
When she learned that Monday’s shooting involved someone believed to
be connected to her son’s death, she was upset.
“I just want justice done the legal way for my son,” Simmons
said. “I don’t want no violence going on, on either side of the family, their
side or my side. I just want justice to be served for my son the legal way. Let
the courthouse and the police do their job. All of this other stuff is uncalled
for. I just wanted to bury my baby and let the courts do what they got to do.
That’s it.”
Mustafa made his
first court appearance Tuesday and was given no bond.
This is the second shooting outside of a North Carolina
Courthouse since late May, when a woman allegedly opened fire on two attorneys.
It’s an issue Wilson County District Attorney Jeff Marsigli says very rare.
“I hope it never happens
again, but I don’t have any fears walking in myself as the District Attorney to
any of our courthouses around my whole, three-county district,” he said.
Tuesday, there was a notable difference on the steps of the
Wilson County Courthouse. There were at least eight uniformed officers on the
steps this morning, including at least two in tactical gear with long guns and
a K-9 officer as well.
“We have armed law enforcement all over the building,”
Marsigli said. “The Sheriff’s department is connected right behind the
courthouse and the police department’s right across the street on the other
side. It’s about as safe a place as you can come. Nobody can predict everything
that’s going to happen in the future but it’s about as safe a place that you
can come.”
WRAL has reached out to the the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office about what’s being done for safety after Monday’s shooting. Including the following questions:
- What steps are in place to ensure safety not just inside the courthouse but around it as well?
- How is that plan being evaluated after Monday’s incident?
- How long will the increased security measures be implemented?
- What message do you have for the victims of violence about how you will protect them?
We will post their answers as soon as we get a response.
It’s going to be hard for Simmons to believe this building is safe considering how Monday’s events made her feel. She has concerns about where
this alleged back and forth retaliation will end and if it could leave her or
her other family members as the next victims.
“That needs to stop,” Simmons said. “This is too much
violence. Even though my son is gone, I don’t hate nobody on this side for what
happened to my son. I just hate that my son is not here with us anymore. I just
want justice to be served but let the courthouse do it. Let the judge and the
police and everybody, let them do it the legal way.”
And despite not knowing her son’s friend, she says she, of
all people, can understand his pain. LaDarrius is her baby boy and she says, if
any of her son’s friends are angry or upset or looking for retribution for his
death, she wants to share this message with them.
“Leave it alone,” Simmons said. “Don’t do it. It’s not worth
it. It’s not worth their life if they go out here and hurt somebody. Then somebody
else’s life is gone or they’re in jail. I don’t want to see nothing like that
happen to nobody else’s kids because that hurt me. I only have three kids and
it feel like a link to one of my chains is broken because my baby boy is gone.”