The family of K’Mia Simmons, the 21-year-old mother of two who was fatally shot in front of her children Tuesday night, held a press conference on Thursday asking for any information that could lead them to her killer.
BY RAVEN JOY SHONEL, Staff Writer
ST. PETERSBURG — The family of K’Mia Simmons is pleading for help from the community for answers in the slaying of their 21-year-old loved one.
“I’m begging you all; I’m pleading with you all to please come forward. Don’t let it go. If you know something, call,” said K’Mia’s mother, Linda Simmons, at a press conference Thursday evening.
K’Mia Simmons was gunned down Tuesday night around 6:15 p.m. when shots were fired into a car while she sat in the passenger seat on 22nd Street and 18th Avenue South.
K’Mia Simmons graduated from Boca Ciega High School in 2018 and studied nursing at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota.
The mother of two was holding her 1-year-old in her arms as her 2-year-old sat in the back in a booster seat, a bullet barely missing the toddler.
St. Petersburg police said the car was being driven by Parise Lovett Jr., the father of the child she laid on to protect from the bullet that killed her. According to police, Lovett dropped the children off at a family member’s home but left their mother to die in the front seat.
At the press conference held at the police department, K’Mia Simmons’ distraught family asked the public for any information that could bring justice to her killer.
“P.J., Parise Lovett Jr., you know who did this. You know you need to come forward because you say you love her; if you love her like you say you do, you need to come forward,” pleaded Linda Simmons.
“Her name was K’Mia Simmons. And she was somebody,” said Lashawn Laster, K’Mia Simmons’ sister.
Police are saying Lovett Jr. is not a suspect in this case, but they would like to speak with him to find out if he knows who fired the shots and why.
“You know who you wronged, said K’Mia’s sister, Lashawn Laster. “You know who you hurt, and you know what you did. You’re not a man; you’re a coward because any real man … wouldn’t have left my sister to die on the streets because of you.”
One of seven siblings, K’Mia was the youngest. She graduated from Boca Ciega High School in 2018 and studied nursing at State College of Florida, Manatee-Sarasota. She wanted to become a gynecologist.
The family is asking anyone who may be protecting the gunman or anyone who may have information to please come forward.
“We just want justice for my sister.”
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call St. Pete Police at 727-893-7780 or Crime Stoppers of Pinellas at 800-873-TIPS.
