Story told by Rico’s mom, Lamonica Mckinley

My son, Rico Simmons, went to urgent care on November 16, 2023, at 8 a.m. He was diagnosed with the flu and was advised that if he didn’t feel better or if his condition worsened, he should go to the emergency room.

Later that same day, at 5 p.m., he went to the emergency room, where he reported feeling weak, experiencing vomiting and stomach pain, and having chest pain whenever he coughed. He was again told he had the flu.

Tragically, my son passed away the next day, on November 17, 2023.

I later received the autopsy report, which stated that he died from necrotizing lobar pneumonia—both bacterial and viral—with sepsis.

My son was just 22 years old.