A shooting early Tuesday morning at a Chillicothe rooming house has prompted an ongoing investigation by local authorities. The incident occurred at 370 McKellar Street, a known residential property that has been the site of previous violent crimes and overdoses. The shooting left a 30 year old Woman, with serious injuries, and led to the arrest of Raymond “Pookie” Simmons, the primary suspect.
At approximately 3:41 AM, a 911 call came in from an unidentified male who reported hearing a gunshot inside the residence, but was unsure whether anyone had been injured. The caller refused to leave his room to check on the situation, which prompted police to respond to the scene.
When officers arrived, they found the residence had been secured, and Simmons’ room, where the alleged shooting occurred, was padlocked from the outside. After forcing entry, officers discovered blood stains on a couch, an AR-15 style rifle on the floor, and a pistol holster on the couch. However, the room was empty, and Simmons had fled the scene in a black Mazda with Kemper and another man, Carlos Beverly.
An officer was able to stop the vehicle near Marietta Road, where they found Kemper in distress and bleeding. She told officers that she had been shot but was unsure if the incident was an accident or intentional. The group was escorted to the hospital, and further investigation revealed that the female had suffered multiple gunshot wounds, one of which was to her neck and another to her shoulder blade.
At the hospital, Detectives conducted an interview with the female, who explained that she had been staying at the McKellar Street residence after recently leaving rehab. She said that she and Simmons had watched a movie and then fallen asleep. She awoke to a loud noise, a white flash, and pain in her neck. Simmons, who was also in the room, began to panic, shouting that she had been shot. He and her then rushed her to the hospital.
During the interview, she was unable to confirm whether the shooting was accidental or intentional but indicated that she would press charges if the shooting was intentional. Investigators later discovered that Kemper’s T-shirt, which was stained with blood and contained a bullet hole, was a key piece of evidence.
Meanwhile, the investigation continued at 370 McKellar Street, where Detectives executed a search warrant on Simmons’ room. The search uncovered a Smith & Wesson 9mm pistol with a spent shell casing lodged inside, as well as narcotics and drug paraphernalia. Investigators also found a plastic bag containing an unknown substance in the car Simmons had been driving.
Following the search, Raymond Simmons and Carlos Beverly were detained and brought in for questioning. In interviews, Simmons claimed that he did not know who shot the victim and denied handling a gun. He stated that he had been startled awake to find the victim standing with blood on her. Beverly, however, contradicted Simmons’ account, admitting that he had been in the laundry room when the shot was fired and had overheard Simmons telling her to “stop” before the gun went off.
As a result of the evidence, Raymond Simmons was charged with Felonious Assault, Weapons Under Disability, and Tampering with Evidence. Carlos Beverly was arrested on charges of Drug Paraphernalia and Obstructing Official Business.
The case has been presented to the Ross County Grand Jury, which returned an indictment for Simmons on October 25, 2024, bringing formal charges against him.
Detectives are continuing their investigation, and evidence, including narcotics and firearms, has been submitted to BCI Laboratories for further analysis. Meanwhile, the victiums medical records have been provided to the Ross County Prosecutor’s Office for review.
As of now, authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Investigative Timeline:
- October 1, 2024 (3:41 AM): 911 call reporting gunshot at 370 McKellar St.
- October 1, 2024 (3:54 AM): Officers arrive at the scene, discover the crime scene, and begin searching for suspects.
- October 1, 2024 (5:00 AM): Raymond Simmons and Carlos Beverly detained and brought to the Law Enforcement Center (LEC) for questioning.
- October 1, 2024 (12:00 PM): Search warrant executed for black Mazda, cell phone seized as evidence.
- October 25, 2024: Grand Jury returns indictment for Raymond Simmons on felony charges.
Ongoing Investigation:
Chillicothe Police detectives are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting and are working closely with the Ross County Prosecutor’s Office to build a case. The investigation into the source of the firearms and narcotics found at the scene is also ongoing.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information regarding this incident to contact the Chillicothe Police Department.
