FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS ADVISORY
September 30, 2014
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Claire Haynes (334) 242-7351
Page 1 of 2
AG STRANGE ANNOUNCES CALHOUN COUNTY MURDER
AND ATTEMPTED MURDER CONVICTIONS UPHELD BY
COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEALS
(MONTGOMERY) –Attorney General Luther Strange announced that the
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals on Friday upheld the intentional murder and
attempted murder convictions of Rapheal Lamar Simmons. Simmons, 25, of Talladega,
was convicted in Calhoun County Circuit Court in November of 2013 for the murder of
Barry Wright and the attempted murder of Lorenzo Gilmer.
Evidence was presented at trial that around 8:30 p.m. on July 21, 2012, Lorenzo
Gilmer, a known drug dealer, and his wife were at Gilmer’s aunt’s house when he
received a telephone call from Cameron White, an acquaintance and business associate,
about buying some crack cocaine. At that time of this incident, victim Barry Wright was
living with Gilmer. Gilmer called Wright and told him to let White and anyone with
him into the house. When Gilmer and his wife returned home, he observed two vehicles
parked in the driveway and a man later identified as Rapheal Simmons who was
standing outside the residence talking on his cellular telephone. Gilmer took his wife to
the back of the house, and then proceeded to the “man cave”. White, Simmons, and
Terry Thomas were also in the room. Gilmer was carrying $7,500 in cash. After Gilmer
pulled out his money, Simmons pointed a gun at Wright. Wright “charged” at Simmons.
Wright and Simmons fought in the hallway for possession of the gun, and Gilmer and
White began fighting with each other inside the room. Simmons shot Wright four
times. Wright later died from his gunshot wounds.
Simmons re-entered the room and asked “did y’all get everything.” As Thomas
grabbed the money, White stated to Simmons “you might as well kill him too.”
Simmons thereafter shot Gilmer in his right side rendering him unable to walk.
The case was prosecuted at trial by Calhoun County District Attorney Brian
McVeigh’s office. The trial court sentenced Simmons to 62 years imprisonment on each
conviction, and Simmons subsequently sought to have his convictions reversed on
appeal.
The Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division handled the case during the
appeals process, arguing for the Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals to affirm the
convictions. The Court did so in a decision issued on Friday, September 26.
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov Page 2 of 2
Attorney General Strange commended Assistant Attorney General Andy Poole
of the Attorney General’s Criminal Appeals Division for his successful work in this
case.
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