TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Florida A&M University head football coach Willie Simmons confirmed to ABC 27 that his son was hurt in an early Sunday morning shooting on Perry Street.
Simmons sent the following statement to ABC 27:
"Our family has been vocal advocates against gun violence in our community and unfortunately the issue has now impacted us on an even more personal level. We appreciate your prayers and ask that you give our family time to support our son as he recovers from his injuries. We as a community must work together to ensure that other families do not have to endure the senseless trauma of gun violence we now face."
- The Simmons and Zanders Family
According to the Tallahassee Police Department, the shooting happened overnight in the 1900 block of Perry Street.
The victim, who Simmons confirmed was his son, arrived at a hospital with a gunshot wound just after 3 a.m. on Sunday. Simmons' son is expected to recover from his injuries.
Simmons, a Quincy native, has been an active anti-gun violence advocate in the community.
After a spate of teen and young adult violence at the end of 2019, Simmons embarked on a mission to get to the root of the problem. Since then, he's partnered with Griffin Middle School in Tallahassee's Griffin Heights neighborhood to spread his anti-gun violence message to the community.
