Detectives are reviewing video and interviewing witnesses after 17-year-old Eric Simmons III was shot near his bus stop.
NEW ORLEANS, La. — Detectives on Monday continued investigating the killing of a 17-year-old student who was shot shortly after stepping off his school bus in the Hollygrove neighborhood, while classmates and relatives gathered at the scene to mourn and press for answers.
The death of Eric Simmons III has shaken students at George Washington Carver High School and renewed concerns about safety near after-school drop-offs. Police said multiple men approached the teen and opened fire before running away. No arrests were announced. Relatives described Simmons as a senior focused on graduation, saying he was still in his school uniform when he was attacked. The case is in its first days, with detectives canvassing the route and checking cameras that face the street. Officials have not released a possible motive.
Officers marked shell casings on the pavement and blocked a side street for hours Sunday as neighbors watched from porches. “We need justice from every angle,” said his grandmother, Shawanda Jackson, who joined a prayer circle beneath a streetlight. His mother, Angelique Drummer, said her son had just returned from classes. “He couldn’t even come home to put his bookbag down,” she said. His father, Eric Simmons Jr., called the loss “devastating,” adding that his son had set goals for life after graduation. By nightfall, balloons, candles and notes lined the curb.
Police said several unidentified men confronted Simmons near the bus stop, then fled on foot. Detectives were interviewing riders and drivers who passed through the area, as well as residents whose doorbell cameras may have captured the approach or escape. The Orleans Parish Coroner will release official findings after an autopsy. Investigators have not identified a suspect or a vehicle, and they have not confirmed whether the teen was targeted or struck amid a wider dispute. The timeline centers on the bus drop-off window in late afternoon or early evening, but police have not provided exact minutes.
Carver High students said administrators acknowledged the loss Monday and planned a remembrance inside the school. Coaches and teachers described Simmons as steady and polite. Hollygrove residents said the block, a mix of single-family homes and small businesses, fills with foot traffic when buses unload. Past policing efforts have included extra patrols around school corridors at dismissal, but residents said coverage can vary by day and route. The shooting amplified those worries, even among families who have walked the same corner for years without trouble.
Next steps for investigators include collecting and reviewing surveillance video from the bus and nearby properties, tracing ballistics, and building a timeline from witness statements. Detectives were expected to canvass again this week as they refine descriptions of the assailants. Funeral plans were still being arranged Monday. Officials said any formal briefing would come after initial lab results and video reviews. Carver High is expected to share memorial details with students once plans are set, according to classmates who attended the vigil.
By Monday afternoon, rain had washed away some candle wax, but flowers and a framed photo remained at the edge of the sidewalk. “He was excited — this was his last year of school,” his father said, standing beside relatives. A neighbor who heard the gunfire said families were walking children to bus stops in small groups. The block returned to its routine by evening, with school buses rumbling past and a few riders glancing toward the makeshift memorial.
Police said the case is open and active, with additional updates expected later this week as evidence is processed and more witnesses are contacted.
Author note: Last updated Nov. 17, 2025.