Avondale man convicted of Harvey murder, attempted murders

An Avondale man was convicted Thursday night (May 3), in connection with a shooting that left one man dead and a second man injured.

Javontae “Tae” Simmons, 24, was convicted as charged of second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder.

The shooting occurred about 12:45 a.m., on April 7, 2015, in the 3700 block of Clover Lane, in Harvey’s Woodmere subdivision.

Stacy Johnson Jr., 20, was shot several times and died at the scene. Another man was struck in the buttocks by a bullet. A third man, the intended target in the crime, was not injured, according to evidence presented in the three-day trial.

The jury deliberated just over 1 ½ hours before returning with its verdicts at 8:40 p.m. Judge Henry Sullivan of the 24th Judicial District Court is scheduled to sentence Simmons on May 14.

Assistant District Attorneys Lindsay Truhe and Doug Freese prosecuted the case.