Simmons Found Guilty of Attempted Murder, Shooting Deadly Missiles

State Attorney Melissa Nelson announces that Paul Simmons III was found guilty by a jury of Attempted Second-Degree Murder and Shooting or Throwing Deadly Missiles. He now faces up to Life in Florida State Prison. The Honorable Adrian Soud will a schedule a sentencing hearing for Simmons the week of Dec. 6, 2021.

On June 15, 2018, members of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting at the intersection of North Julia and West Beaver streets. The victim stopped at the intersection when Simmons reached through the front passenger window and fired one shot at the driver. The victim was able to drive to a nearby location and receive medical assistance. An investigation uncovered surveillance footage that showed Simmons at the intersection for several minutes before the driver stops at the intersection. The footage then shows Simmons walk behind the stopped vehicle, arrive at the passenger-side window, pull out a firearm, and fire one shot before the car speeds away and Simmons flees on foot. A positive identification was made from a fingerprint left and DNA left on the vehicle; cellphone data also showed Simmons was in the area before and after the shooting. Simmons was arrested Sept. 25, 2018, following the investigation on his active warrant.

The case was investigated by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant State Attorneys Chyna Makarowski and Lauren Randall.