Simmons murder conviction appeal denied by state Supreme Court
The Mississippi Supreme Court has denied the appeal of Richard Devane Simmons' murder conviction in the 2021 death of Willie Latimer.
Philadelphia Police said at the time that Simmons shot Latimer multiple times.
The Supreme Court’s denial of certiorari review means that a previous decision, issued by the Mississippi Court of Appeals on Sept. 24, 2024, affirming the conviction, stands.
On the evening of July 31, 2021, Willie Latimer stopped to talk to Justin Payton at Payton’s house on Northwest Street in Philadelphia, according to court documents.
After talking to Payton, Latimer walked a short distance down A Avenue to where a group of people had gathered, “talking and interacting.”
About 15 to 20 minutes later, Payton heard gunshots. Payton testified that he witnessed a “verbal communication going back and forth” between Latimer and the shooter, but Payton could not hear what they said. The shooter “was going towards” Latimer
as he was shooting, and after “about the third pop, [Latimer] fell.”
Payton testified that after “about the second or third shot, somebody shouted, ‘No, don’t shoot him no more.’”