Davonte Simmons, an 18-year-old African American male, was shot and killed on March 24, 2022, in Rockford, Illinois. The shooting occurred around 8:40 p.m. on Pleasant View Avenue; officers found Simmons lying in the street with multiple gunshot wounds, including two to the shoulder and one to the back. Neighbors initially thought he had been struck by a gray 2006 Nissan Altima, but neighborhood surveillance video later captured the incident.

Police say the killing resulted from a planned robbery aimed at taking Simmons’ gun. Four suspects were charged in connection with the case: Shon Davis, 19; Kenneth Alexander, 24; Angelo Woods, 18; and Marquzaise Alexander, 19. According to reports, the group met at the Orton Keys housing complex, lured Simmons into a vehicle under the pretense of smoking marijuana, and drove to the Pleasant Street area. Shots were fired from the back seat, and Simmons was struck multiple times. One suspect reportedly fled the scene; another sought medical treatment for a hand wound and left the hospital before being treated. The murder weapon was recovered from a basement and linked to the scene by forensic evidence.

If anyone in Rockford saw Simmons on the evening of March 24, 2022, or has information about the planned robbery, please come forward.