Former Virginia Beach football star shot to death in Chesapeake
Deveon Simmons, a star linebacker who helped lead Landstown High in Virginia Beach to its first state football championship in 2004, was shot and killed Saturday afternoon, Chesapeake police confirmed Monday.
Officers responded to the 4000 block of Brookland Drive Saturday after reports of gunshots. Police say Simmons was shot and killed while sitting in a vehicle in a parking lot.
The suspect is described as an unknown male last seen fleeing the area on foot. The incident is under investigation.
Simmons, 35, was the No. 1 recruit in South Hampton Roads in 2005 and regarded as one of the nation’s top 100 seniors.
He was a two-time first-team All-Tidewater selection and all-state selection as he — along with Percy Harvin — led the Eagles to a state title in 2004. In that senior season, Simmons had more than 100 tackles and eight sacks and caused six fumbles.
He had more than 30 college scholarship offers, including one from every ACC school. He committed to Virginia Tech and played his senior season at Landstown, but was expelled a few months before graduation.
After three years away from organized football, he briefly attended Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, but never played major college football.
Many, including Harvin, believed Simmons had the skills to play in the NFL.
Former Landstown head coach Chris Beatty couldn’t believe the news about his former star player.
“I don’t know what to even say,” said Beatty, now the wide receivers coach for the Los Angles Chargers. “He was a great player and had a great heart. He loved his friends and his family. I loved being around him, and he will be sorely missed.”
Former Landstown assistant coach Tom Anderson was traveling from Charlotte when he learned about Simmons’ death.
“I’m heartbroken and speechless,” he said. “A mother just lost her son. A brother and sister lost their brother, and his children lost a father. And Landstown lost a legend. None of our lives will ever be the same.”
