North Texas Recruit Willie Simmons Among Those Killed In Shooting In Austin, Texas

Tragedy has hit North Texas as a recruit for their football program was among those killed Sunday in Austin, Texas.

Three people were killed in what police are calling a “domestic situation” Sunday afternoon. One of them was recruit Willie Simmons, a linebacker at Elgin High School in Texas.

Austin Police announced that former Travis County Sheriff’s detective Stephen Broderick was the suspect behind the murders. Broderick was arrested without incident early on Monday.

Simmons committed to North Texas in April of 2020. He signed with the school during the early signing period and was set to join the team after he graduated from Elgin this spring.

The Elgin School District said Monday morning that Simmons and Alyssa Broderick were killed in the shooting.

The district identified Broderick as a former student.

“He was an exceptional young man and leader among his peers,” the district said of Simmons.

“Strong, both academically and athletically, he represented the best of Elgin ISD. He was the captain of our football team, a friend to everyone he met; and most recently, recruited to play football for the University of North Texas.”

Simmons was one of 18 recruits for North Texas. Simmons said he knew immediately that he would attend there after high school.

“I felt the love. There was no doubt in my mind when they gave me an offer,” Simmons said via the Denton Record-Chronicle.