Slain Man Was Prominent Gay Activist : Crime: Jon A. Simmons, who was found shot to death last weekend in Beverly Hills, was a former adviser to Chicago’s mayor on gay and lesbian issues.

The Chicago man found shot to death in a Beverly Hills alley this week was a high-profile gay activist who had worked as Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley’s liaison to the gay and lesbian community.

Beverly Hills police said they have not determined a motive for the killing of Jon A. Simmons, 39, who was found Sunday morning naked and shot in the head.

Simmons’ killing shocked the gay community in Chicago.

He began working with the mayor’s office in 1988, serving as director the Commission on Human Rights’ Advisory Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues until he left to go to law school in 1991. He had taken an active role in seeking passage of a human rights ordinance that would protect gays and lesbians from discrimination.

“Jon was a dedicated public servant committed to human rights, and a strong advocate for the gay and lesbian community,” Daley said in a statement.

“The gay community suffered a major loss,” said Robert Dachis, Simmons’ longtime friend and attorney. “But it goes beyond that to the whole community losing a dedicated public servant and a leader.”

Simmons resigned from the city post to attend the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Kent Law School, graduating in July. He also had been caring for his companion, who died of AIDS in January.

Friends said Simmons had looked forward to his first trip to California as a respite from a difficult couple of years.

Five days after he arrived, Simmons’ body was found at 7:20 a.m. Sunday in an alley between Sierra and Oakhurst drives by a woman out for a walk. Police said they believed he had been killed at that location.

Barry Simmons of San Francisco said he and his brother had come to Los Angeles for a vacation, and that Jon had planned to leave for Honolulu last Tuesday to visit a friend from law school.

Saturday night, Jon Simmons had left the Century Plaza Hotel with plans to meet friends at The Abbey coffeehouse in West Hollywood at 10 p.m., Barry Simmons said.

“Jon called around 11 p.m. to say his friends did not show up and he was going to go out for a drink. That was the last time I talked to him,” Simmons said.

When Jon did not return by Sunday morning, Barry Simmons said he filed a missing persons report with Los Angeles police. By that time, Jon Simmons had been found slain in Beverly Hills. His burned-out rental car was found later that day in El Monte.

Police would not comment on the case.

Authorities began circulating a bulletin in West Hollywood on Wednesday, requesting anyone who saw or had contact with Jon Simmons to contact Beverly Hills police at (310) 285-2150.

Times researcher John Beckham in Chicago contributed to this story.