Man sentenced to life in prison for Macon woman’s murder

After a week-long trial, a Quteavis Simmons will serve life in prison with the possibility of parole.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Years after Harriett Patrick was killed, a Bibb County jury found Queteavis Quayshon Simmons guilty of malice murder.

According to a news release from the Office of District Attorney Anita Howard, Patrick was shot on October 10, 2021. She was driving home from a birthday party, when Simmons pulled up beside her on Eisenhower Parkway and fired three shots into her car. The D.A.’s office says Simmons believed that his ex-girlfriend’s current partner was in the car.

One bullet hit Patrick in the abdomen. She called her husband and son for help, and drove herself home to meet first responders. Patrick died from her injuries 10 days later.

In a statement, D.A. Howard calls the shooting an act of senseless violence that shattered a family and took the life of a woman who served her country and survived breast cancer.

“Harriett Patrick was an innocent woman who had her life stolen from her,” said District Attorney R. Howard.
“This senseless act of violence took a devoted wife, loving mother, proud veteran, and breast cancer survivor
from her family and community. While no verdict can bring Harriett back, we are grateful that the jury saw
through the defense’s arguments and held this defendant accountable for his heinous crime.”

Prosecutors say this trial was a difficult and lengthy process. Patrick and Simmons did not know each other, and no murder weapon was recovered. Further complicating the case, two critical witnesses had to be forced to cooperate. Prosecutors had to attend out-of-state- court hearings in Tennessee and Chicago, Illinois in order to bring those witnesses to Macon for testimonies.

The State requested the maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole, arguing that the crime was malicious in nature. However, the trial court sentenced Simmons to life in prison with the possibility of parole.

“This conviction represents the relentless work of law enforcement, prosecutors, and everyone who
contributed to bringing Harriett Patrick’s killer to justice,” District Attorney Howard stated. “We hope this
verdict provides comfort to Patrick’s family and sends a clear message that violent crime will not be tolerated
in our community.”