An Avondale man was sentenced Monday (May 14) to life in prison for his convictions stemming a Harvey shooting that left one man dead and another injured.
Javontae “Tae” Simmons, 24, was convicted as charged on May 4 of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit second-degree murder.
All charges stem from an April 7, 2015, shooting in 3700 block of Clover Lane, in Harvey’s Woodmere subdivision. Stacy Johnson Jr., 20, was shot several times and died at the scene. A second man was shot in the buttocks as he ran away. A third man, who was the intended target of the shooting, escaped uninjured.
Life in prison without benefit of parole, probation or suspension of sentence is mandatory for second-degree murder.
After denying defense motions for a post-verdict judgment of acquittal and a motion for new trial, in addition to the mandatory life sentence for the murder conviction, Judge Henry Sullivan of the 24th Judicial District Court sentenced Simmons to 30 years for the conspiracy to commit second-degree murder and 50 years for each of the two convictions of attempted second-degree murder. Judge Sullivan ran the sentences concurrently.
Assistant District Attorneys Lindsay Truhe and Doug Freese prosecuted the case.
