Houma gun sale leaves one dead, two arrested

Raeven Poole
·1 min read

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

HOUMA, La. (WGNO) — A man is dead, and a juvenile was hospitalized after a shooting in Houma on Thursday, Feb. 1.

The Houma Police Department reported the shooting happened around 5:45 p.m. in the 1100 block of Lafayette Street. Officers were called to the scene, and when they arrived, 20-year-old Terrance Scott and a 14-year-old boy were found both suffering from gunshot wounds.

They were taken to a local hospital by EMS where Scott died from his injuries. Officers said the teenager was treated and is expected to recover.

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Through an investigation, Houma police were able to identify Terrance Simms as the alleged person responsible. Simms reportedly worked as a Juvenile Direct Care Associate with the Terrebonne Parish Juvenile Detention Center.

Further details revealed Simms befriended the teen while working at the center. Upon the juvenile’s release, a conversation was had regarding Simms allegedly selling the teen a gun.

Police said Simms, Scott and the teen arrived at the Lafayette Street location but during the transaction, for unknown reasons, guns were pulled, and the individuals exchanged gunfire.

Simms left the scene but reportedly turned himself into the police later that day. He was arrested and booked into the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex on second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.

The 14-year-old was also arrested and booked into an out-of-parish juvenile detention center for attempted second-degree murder.

Officers said the incident remains under investigation.

Anyone with information on the crime is asked to call the Houma Police Department at (985)-873-6371 or Crimestoppers Bayou Region at 1-800-743-7433.

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