13-year old Darius Simmons was shot two times by his next door neighbor as he took out his family’s trash in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
By: A.J. Niles
When the mother of Darius Simmons sent him to take out the trash, she did not expect that would be the last time she spoke to her son. However, that is what occurred when Darius was confronted by his 75-year old neighbor. The neighbor, John Spooner, accused Darius of breaking into his home, stealing his guns.
During a vigil held on the street Darius and his family lived, his aunt, Betty McCuiston tells Cbs 58 in Milwaukee,
“His mom wants everyone to know. He had his hands up standing in front of him when he shot him. He turned to run. He shot him again in his back.”
Cbs 58 also reports:
Neighbors say earlier that week someone stole from Darius’ next door neighbor John Spooner’s home. According to court papers, Darius’ mother heard Spooner ask her son for his stuff back. The boy told him he didn’t have anything. That’s when the family says the man took the law into his own hands.
Neighbor Robert Delatorre said Spooner lived alone with his two dogs and often walked around the block. While he was on one of those walks his house was burglarized and the man suspected his next-door neighbors had committed the crime, Delatorre said. Spooner installed surveillance cameras outside his house.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports:
Alderman Bob Donovan had breakfast with Spooner earlier in the day at a George Webb restaurant. Donovan said the man told him he had lost $3,000 worth of shotguns in a burglary this week, was frustrated with police and was dying of lung cancer.
Milwaukee Police arrested John Spooner and charged him with First-Degree Intentional Homicide and he is currently in jail awaiting a bond hearing.
The family is struggling to pay for Darius’ funeral expenses. They have set up a Memorial fund at Tri-City National Bank in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Wow. How do you go to someone else’s house and shoot and kill their child because you THINK he stole things out of your house? America’s continued disregard for the black man and black boy’s life must end.
All we can do is try to protect our children. Black boys tend to be in the most danger though. We have to talk to them about race in this country and remind them that they are looked at as black men when they reach the age of 11. It’s not fair but I rather our children stop dying than fighting for a day that will never come.
It’s very sad but what you just said is exactly right! We have to teach the little black boys that they start being treated like black men around 11 or 12 years old. They can literally lose their life in a split second over a damn misunderstanding or some racist bastard. It hurts my heart!
I don’t remember who it was but someone on here said that there would be more Trayvon Martin cases popping up all over the country. It’s really sad to see that they were spot on.