Raytown, MO: Raytown woman shot and killed while her children watched

When a mother of three was shot to death Tuesday in Raytown, her children were just steps away.

Shukriyyah “Shu” J. Simmons, 29, of Raytown, was in her driveway watching as two of her children, ages 8 and 9, were getting on a school bus. A toddler was standing in the doorway of her home, said Kansas City Detective Tom Prudden with the Kansas City Metropolitan Major Case Squad.

They saw a man approach their mother on foot and shoot her multiple times before he ran behind the house, Prudden said.

“We have no motive,” Prudden said. “There was no apparent robbery. There is nothing to say this was a case of domestic violence.”

Simmons’ mother, Arthurine Simmons, said the children were doing OK. The youngest was unaware of what he saw, she said.

Arthurine Simmons said her daughter was a stay-at-home mom who at times helped manage her family’s restaurant.

“My daughter was a lovely daughter and a lovely mother, a lovely sister. She was a joy to be around for her family. She loved her family. She was kind-hearted and giving. I couldn’t ask for a better daughter,” she said. “She was a sweet, loving person to anybody who knew her. If she was a friend, you had a real friend.”

The shooting occurred about 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 7300 block of Ash Street. Police found Simmons’ body on the driveway. The Metro Squad is working with Raytown police to investigate the homicide.

Anyone with information about Simmons’ death is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at 816-474-TIPS (474-8477) or the Metro Squad at 816-737-6034.



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