Port Arthur Police say mother of 6 was killed following Monday shootings

Published 11:20 am Tuesday, June 20, 2023

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A 31-year-old mother of six is dead and a man in stable condition following an afternoon of violence Monday, authorities said.

The alleged shooter, identified by Port Arthur Police Department as Eric Martin, 38, of Port Arthur, was apprehended Monday night in Lafayette, Louisiana, and arrested on an outstanding warrant.

The violence began at approximately noon in the 2800 block of 15th Street with the shooting of Shekira Simpson of Port Arthur and continued to the 1600 block of Vicksburg, where Leon Davis was shot in the back.

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Port Arthur Newsmedia emailed questions to PAPD Chief Tim Duriso, PAPD Officer Wendy Billiot and Sgt. Ahmaal Bodden.

Billiot said Davis is in stable condition.

Simpson died as a result of her gunshot, she added.

Initial information released by PAPD named Martin as a shooting suspect but did not specify if he reportedly shot Simpson and Davis.

It is unknown which victim was shot first.

Police are not saying how Martin was located or if he has been extradited to Port Arthur yet.

Billiot said she could not answer if Simpson died at the scene or at the hospital or if there is a connection, if any, between the fatal shooting of Simpson and shooting of Davis to a deadly conduct/assault on a peace officer call that occurred two hours later blocks away.

Shortly after the shootings, Port Arthur Police Department officers were seen at an apartment building. The department’s crime scene unit and a number of officers were at the site.

A vehicle to the back left of the apartments was cordoned off with crime scene tape and police were seen walking back and forth.

PAPD’s Criminal Investigations Division is handling the case.