GREENSBORO – A 19-year-old from Ahoskie was murdered in the early morning hours of Sunday (Aug. 30) in the parking lot outside a Greensboro nightclub.

According to the Greensboro News and Record’s website, Patrick Simmons was shot and killed shortly after 2 a.m.

Jermaine Marqel Couch, of Greensboro, has been charged with first degree murder in connection to the death of Simmons.

Police said they observed a disturbance in the Railyard parking lot at the end of West Lewis Street as people left Club Lotus. As the officers approached the disturbance, they heard a gunshot and found the victim on the ground, according to police.

Simmons was taken to Moses H. Cone Hospital by emergency responders where he was pronounced dead.

Officers immediately developed suspect information and were able to find and stop a vehicle leaving the scene, according to police.

Investigators have not determined a motive behind the shooting. The investigation is ongoing.

According to a local source, Simmons – a 2014 graduate of HertfordCountyHigh School – was a student at Elizabeth City State University. He reportedly was in Greensboro this weekend visiting his brother, Wayne, who is a student at North Carolina A&T State University.