Two arrested following ‘The Park’ alley murder

One man was arrested and another is being sought by police in the Sept. 9 fatal shooting of a 30-year-old Beaumont man.

According to the Beaumont Police Department (BPD), officers working off-duty security at The Park on Calder, 2325 Calder, advised shots were fired in the alley east of their location.

While en route, BPD officers were advised that a victim was discovered lying in the alley and the possible suspects fled the area in a black vehicle. The victim was identified as Leroy Smith, 30, of Beaumont.

Officers were able to locate the suspect vehicle at the intersection of Calder and Interstate 10 North and attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. But the driver, Horace Peterson, 39, of Houston, began evading and, after a short vehicle pursuit, the driver pulled over in a parking lot.

The passenger, 21-year-old Augusta Simon Jr. of Houston, exited the vehicle and began evading on foot. Officers apprehended the passenger and located evidence linking the passenger to the murder. Both men were transported to the Jefferson County Correctional Facility.

Simon was charged with murder, tampering with evidence, evading arrest and unlawfully carrying a weapon. Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Jr. set Simon’s murder bond at $995,000. Peterson was charged with evading in a motor vehicle with a previous conviction and bond was set at $50,000.

According to BPD, there was a large crowd at the location during the shooting and detectives are asking that witnesses with information about the incident. Anyone with cellphone video is asked to contact BPD at (409) 832-1234.