Wilson, NC Police have now arrested three people in connection with the cold-blooded shooting death of 16-year-old Ladarrius “D’Baby” Simmons — including the alleged 17-year-old shooter and a man and woman accused of lying to police to help cover it up. The woman lived at the exact address where D’Baby was gunned down.
Just after midnight on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, officers responded to a gunshot call at 616 Spruce Street in Wilson’s Whitfield Homes subdivision. They found D’Baby inside the home suffering from a fatal gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Family members said the teen did not live there — the residence was occupied by a 19-year-old woman and her young children.
A 17-year-old juvenile (referred to in court documents as “J.H.”) has been charged with murder in D’Baby’s death. Due to his age, his full name has not been released. He was taken into custody and is being held at a juvenile detention facility. Police say this was a targeted, deliberate killing inside the home.
Man & Woman Allegedly Lied to Protect the Shooter
Latoya Andrea Lucas, 19, of 616 Spruce Street (the actual address where the murder occurred), has been charged with Felony Accessory After the Fact to Murder and Felony Obstructing Justice.
Warrants allege she knew J.H. had committed the murder and then knowingly helped him escape detection, arrest, and punishment by providing false statements to law enforcement about what happened that night.
Also charged is Valenta Deondra Lucas, 41, of 906 Birch Street. He has been charged with Felony Obstructing Justice. Warrants accuse Valenta of providing false statements to police about the circumstances surrounding the murder of 16-year-old Ladarrius Simmons — statements allegedly made “with deceit and intent to defraud.”
Valenta was denied bond, and Latoya was issued a $10,000 secured bond.
Wilson Police have not said whether additional arrests are expected, but the investigation remains very much active and ongoing.
