WHAT HE SAID…
December 2, 2015
Councilman forgives man who killed his dad
December 2, 2015
A Houma man wanted in connection with a fatal Nov. 11 shooting surrendered to authorities last week.
Terrance Moore was booked on charges of first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the death of Ernest “Pops” Sims, Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said.
Moore turned himself in to detectives Friday, accompanied by Terrebonne NAACP President Jerome Boykin and a family friend. Moore maintains that he is innocent of the crime, Boykin said.
He is being held at the Terrebonne jail in lieu of a $1,500,000 bond.
Sims was shot after exiting his vehicle in the driveway of his home at 156 Mozart Drive, in the Ashland North subdivision.
The victim’s grandmother, Dorisa Sims, said Monday she was made aware of the arrest through media reports, but is not acquainted with Moore.
“I don’t know him,” said Dorisa Sims, who is still grieving the loss. “I am hurting, I can’t sleep, I can’t rest. Pops was a good person. It hurts me so bad. He didn’t bother anybody and he was a good child.”
Boykin, who has assisted with people being sought by authorities in the past, said reaching out to Moore was an important part of his function as a community leader.
“Here we have a young man who is wanted for a serious crime that he may or may not have done, however a lot of times warrants are issued and people decide not to turn themselves in,” Boykin explained in an interview. “Many times that can put other peoples’ lives in danger, so I helped in this instance for the better public good, for the good of the community to get that young man to turn himself in and let the criminal justice system take the course of what it will do.”
After learning that a warrant was issued for Moore, Boykin reached out through a mutual friend, James Price. Price contacted Moore and expressed concerns Boykin had raised.
Boykin reached out to Larpenter once Moore had agreed to surrender, and detectives were prepared for his arrival Friday morning.
“It is not my job to judge whether people did a crime or didn’t do a crime. I wanted to let him know the best thing he could do is turn himself in,” Boykin said of Moore. “I usually wait until I am contacted by a family member of a friend, but I felt in this instance I needed to be proactive.”
Terrance Moore, of Houma, was charged with first-degree murder and armed robbery in connection with the death of Ernest “Pops” Sims.
