A 23-year-old Peoria man will spend decades in prison for a 2023 murder connected to a dice game in the North Valley.
Ronnie Simmons was found guilty by a Peoria County jury in July of first-degree murder and other crimes in the death of Demetrious Davis. He was convicted of shooting Davis in an attempt to rob him of the gambling proceeds.
On Wednesday, Chief Judge Katherine Gorman sentenced Simmons to a total of 70 years in prison, with 60 years for the murder and the other 10 for aggravated battery with a firearm. He must serve 100% of the sentence on the murder charge.
According to a news release from the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office, Gorman pointed to Simmons’ ego, greed and anger, and said such senseless violence “is unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
Witnesses at the crime scene told Peoria police that Simmons had been losing money in the dice game and repeatedly left to get more funds to keep playing. When Davis and another man prepared to leave after Simmons’ last return, he pulled a gun and tried to rob them.
Simmons fatally shot Davis, and the second victim was struck while trying to disarm the shooter. That victim was treated at the hospital and survived.
Simmons fled the scene, but was apprehended shortly after the incident. A handgun was recovered inside the residence. Testing showed shell casings at the crime scene matched the weapon used, and Simmons’ DNA was on the gun.
