While waiting for his girlfriend’s mother to prepare a birthday lunch for him, off shore worker Damian Simmons decided to pay a quick visit to his mother’s house. However, this decision cost him his life.
While on his way to her home at Union Park East Extension around 1 pm yesterday, a gunman opened fire on Simmons at St James Street, Marabella, shooting him on the head and back. He died instantly. Police said it was possible that Simmons may have been lured to his death and then robbed.
Speaking at the crime scene yesterday, Simmon’s pregnant girlfriend, Megan Sanchez, said she did not know who wanted him dead.
“He was at home good all the time and then he got a phone call. I heard him say ‘Dawg, ah coming’ and then he left. It was only an hour later that I saw on WhatsApp that he died,” Meagan said, clutching her belly and sobbing silently. She said none of Simmons relatives had the courtesy to inform her that he had died.
Saying that Simmons was looking forward to the birth of his daughter, Megan said it was possible that Simmons was robbed and killed. She said he was wearing a thick expensive gold chain before he left home but this was missing when the police found the body. His wallet containing his ID card, drivers permit and bank cards was recovered and handed to relatives. Meagan said Simmons was not afraid of anyone and did not have enemies.
“He had a good job as an offshore worker with Massy. He was a good man and I don’t know what I will do now that he is gone,” Megan said. She added that Simmons had been living with her for two years but they were never married. He had an eight-year-old son from a previous relationship.
Meagan’s mother Ann Marie Sanchez said Simmons celebrated his 31st birthday yesterday and wanted to eat callaloo, baked chicken and potato pie.
“I had already made the callaloo and pie and he was waiting for the chicken when he got the call,” Ann Marie said. She described Simmons as a hard worker who never had any issues with others. Just before his death, Simmons posted a photo of himself and three friends on Facebook.
“This has us shaken up because we do not know why anyone would want to kill him,” Ann Marie said. Police recovered four spent shells and two live rounds of ammunition on the crime scene.
The body was viewed by a District Medical Officer and then taken to the Forensic Science Centre where an autopsy will be done today.