GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.–People in one Grand Rapids neighborhood are still trying to cope with the death of one of their own. It happened Sunday afternoon in the 400 block of 11th St. When police arrived, the victim was already dead.
A man is behind bars for the death of 68-year-old, Patrick Simmons, but police have not yet released the suspect’s name. Neighbors of Simmons identified the suspect only as “Al.” They say Simmons and his longtime roommate often invited homeless people into the house. They believe “Al” is one of those people.
“It’s horrible,” said Nicole Smith. “You don’t feel safe like honestly I bet you a million times that same person has been in my mom and dad’s house or been somewhere over here or I could have given him a dollar when I’ve seen him at Speedway or something and didn’t know they’re capable of that. It’s unsettling.”
“He’s a good guy,” said Mark Wright, Simmons’ caretaker. “He stays to himself. He’s grumpy but he’s good.”
Investigators are awaiting autopsy results to determine exactly how Simmons died.
