Woman killed boyfriend in front of her 3-year-old child after the victim made her move out of his apartment – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: nvmwebsites-budwg5g9avh3epea.z03.azurefd.net)
Spartanburg, South Carolina – A jury convicted 25-year-old Zaria Aiyanna Owens of voluntary manslaughter and a related weapons charge in the August 2023 shooting death of her boyfriend, 21-year-old Tyquirez Rashad Sims. The fatal confrontation unfolded outside an apartment complex on College Pointe Lane after an argument over Owens moving out of the shared residence. Owens received a 21-year prison term on the manslaughter count, with a concurrent five-year sentence on the weapons offense.
The Argument That Escalated
The couple had been living together until Sims decided Owens should leave the apartment. Prosecutors described how the dispute intensified when Owens took Sims’s gun and phone. Sims followed her to the car, retrieved her 3-year-old son from inside the apartment, and brought the child to the vehicle in an apparent effort to end the confrontation and prompt her departure.
According to witness accounts presented at trial, Owens then raised the gun and fired a single shot. Sims was struck in the head while standing on the curb several feet away. First responders found him dead at the scene. The child was present throughout but suffered no physical injuries.
Shifting Accounts and Evidence
Owens initially told investigators she acted in self-defense. She later described reaching for her son when Sims allegedly pushed the toddler toward her, causing the boy to stumble. She admitted picking up the gun and firing. Authorities noted the distance between the two adults at the moment of the shot and confirmed the weapon belonged to the victim…