Accused killer of DoorDash driver in road rage shooting on Woodward, headed to trial

FOX 2 - The man charged in the fatal shooting of a DoorDash driver in a fit of road rage on Woodward near Eight Mile, is going to trial.

Terrell Simms is charged with shooting DoorDash driver Mamadou Diallo, who was working to deliver food in the early morning hours of March 9.

Simms was not given a bond at the conclusion of Friday's preliminary hearing, with the judge saying he believed he was a "danger to society."

Diallo turned to go south in his Ford Escape and nearly hit Simms who was speeding down Woodward in a GMC pickup. At Eight Mile, police said Simms abruptly stopped to wait for Diallo and once he arrived, he opened fire.

Simms allegedly fired six rounds into the Escape, hitting Diallo once in the stomach and killing him. Simms is facing second-degree murder and multiple weapons charges.

"This is a circumstantial case judge, but one of the strongest circumstantial cases that I believe I have ever been a part of," the prosecutor said. "We do believe this defendant was the person pulling the trigger, however the court need not make that determination. If the court is comfortable believing that the defendant is the driver of that truck … but for the fact that he hit the brakes, slowed down and pulled alongside the victim's vehicle, the victim would still be alive today."

The defense attorney pointed out that Simms was with two other people in the truck and that it was unclear who the shooter was, especially with no video evidence of it.

There is no surveillance or outdoor video showing Simms shoot Diallo. However, the judge felt sufficient evidence was presented showing the truck Simms was driving waited, then aggressively pulled alongside Diallo's SUV after the earlier near-collision.

"The best evidence that we have here is that 10-second time frame and that's from the point where the defendant hits the brakes and slows down to the time these gun shots were fired," the prosecutor said. "That eliminates anyone else in the world that could have done this."

Four weapons, two stolen, including the murder weapon, a .40 caliber Glock, were found inside the Oak Park residence during a police search warrant on April 8. Simms has a previous conviction and is prohibited from having a firearm.

The sweatshirt he was wearing the night of the shooting was also found inside the residence where Simms was living with his and brother, sister.

The judge said that probable cause was proven despite the circumstantial nature of the evidence - but not beyond a reasonable doubt.

"Well, circumstantial cases are made fun of an television. We as lawyers know that most cases are circumstantial," he said. "I find from the evidence that's been presented is reasonable to believe that, the defendant this matter was, in fact, the driver of the car."

Diallo came to the US from Senegal, Africa, in 2023 and lived in Detroit. Ferndale police chief Dennis Emmi said he was working as a delivery driver to make ends meet while taking English classes. He was killed one day before his 27th birthday.