The gunfire erupted near a day care and businesses at East 183 Street and Hughes Avenue.
BRONX, N.Y. — A 19-year-old Bronx man was shot to death Wednesday on a Belmont street lined with homes and businesses, police said, as investigators looked for three men who fled on scooters after the gunfire near a day care center.
The killing of Lamar Simmons, whom relatives said was walking home from school and expected for a family dinner, drew grief and anger along East 183 Street. Detectives spent hours on the block collecting shell casings, speaking with witnesses and searching for video that might show who opened fire and why. By early Thursday, police said no arrests had been made and the suspects remained at large.
Police said officers were called to the corner of East 183 Street and Hughes Avenue just after 2 p.m. Wednesday. When they arrived, they found Simmons on the street, unconscious and unresponsive, with a gunshot wound to the chest, authorities said. Paramedics rushed him to St. Barnabas Hospital in critical condition, but he later died. The shooting happened in full daylight, at a time when many residents said children and parents are typically moving through the area.
A witness in the neighborhood said the gunfire came without warning. He told local reporters he heard four or five shots and did not hear a dispute before or after the shooting. People nearby turned toward the sound, and some ducked behind cars, residents said. Investigators marked the scene and blocked off part of the sidewalk and roadway as they worked. The day care facility nearby was ringed with tape, and detectives moved between storefronts and residential entrances as they tried to determine who was with Simmons and whether the shooters had been waiting for him.
Police said they were searching for three men in hoodies who left the scene on scooters. Descriptions circulated by local outlets said one suspect was last seen in a blue hoodie with white lettering, a black jacket and white sneakers. A second suspect was described as wearing a red sweater, a black jacket and white sneakers. A third suspect was described as wearing a black jacket, gray sneakers and a black mask. Authorities have not publicly said whether the men were seen on a single scooter or on multiple scooters, and officials have not released photos of the suspects.
Family members who spoke outside the hospital described a sudden, painful scramble after learning Simmons had been shot. His sister said she and their mother broke down as they entered the emergency room. She called him the youngest in the family and said the loss felt overwhelming. “I just can’t believe what’s going on,” she said. She described her brother as unusually bright, saying he used “big words” that surprised her. “He was a smart kid,” she said, as relatives tried to piece together what happened in the minutes before the shooting.
Simmons’ father said the family did not know why he was shot. “We don’t know,” he said. “We’re still trying to answer questions we can’t even answer right now.” A longtime neighbor described Simmons as respectful and not involved in gangs, and the neighbor said the killing might have been a case of mistaken identity. Police have not confirmed that possibility, and investigators have not publicly described a motive or said whether the victim had been threatened.
The neighborhood around the shooting site includes restaurants, small shops and residential buildings, residents said, and the corner can be busy even in the middle of a weekday. The shooting left a sense of fear, especially because it happened near a place where families drop off and pick up young children. “It’s scary,” said a resident named Kiara, who noted that her own child is nearing 1 year old. Others said the violence has changed daily life. One neighbor said the atmosphere makes it hard for children to enjoy the neighborhood the way earlier generations did, describing kids who stay indoors because parents worry about stray bullets or sudden fights.
Police activity stretched across the block as investigators looked for evidence and potential camera angles. Residents pointed toward security cameras on buildings and above entrances, hoping footage would help identify suspects and trace their path away from the corner. Detectives also spoke with people who were outside at the time, including business workers and neighbors who said they heard shots and saw people running. Officials have not said whether the victim was walking alone, whether any property was taken, or whether the attack appeared targeted.
Authorities also have not released details about the firearm used or how many rounds were fired. Shell casings were visible in images from the scene, and evidence markers dotted the roadway as detectives documented the area. Such scenes can yield clues about where the shooter stood, how quickly the shots were fired, and whether multiple weapons were involved, but investigators had not shared those findings publicly by Thursday morning.
Belmont residents said the area has seen violence before, but many described the latest shooting as especially unsettling because it happened near a day care during a time when families were likely nearby. Some residents said the corner felt different in the hours after the shooting, quieter as people slowed down, looked around and spoke in hushed voices. Others gathered behind the tape line, trading bits of information and waiting for word on whether police had identified anyone.
Police said the investigation remained ongoing and urged anyone with information to come forward. Detectives were expected to continue reviewing surveillance video and interviewing witnesses Thursday as they tried to determine who shot Simmons and why, and whether the suspects can be located quickly.
Author note: Last updated March 5, 2026.