A South Carolina jury found Zaria Aiyanna Owens guilty Thursday of killing her boyfriend in front of their young son, concluding a case that centered on a domestic dispute over the victim's decision to make her leave his apartment.
Background
The shooting occurred outside an apartment complex on College Pointe Lane in Spartanburg County, approximately 30 miles northeast of Greenville. According to prosecutors, Owens and Tyquirez Rashad Sims, 21, had been living together when Sims told Owens she would have to move out. The couple began arguing just before 9 p.m. on the night of August 2023.
The argument intensified when Sims realized Owens had taken his gun and phone, authorities said. He followed her to her car. When Owens pointed his own weapon at him, Sims went back inside the apartment and retrieved Owens' 3-year-old son, bringing the child to her car in an attempt to convince her to leave.
Prosecutors presented evidence that Owens then raised the gun and fired as Sims stood on the curb several feet away. The victim was struck once in the head. First responders found him dead at the scene. Investigators confirmed the toddler was not injured during the incident.
The Investigation
Owens fled the scene with her son but police located her vehicle at a nearby apartment complex. She surrendered to authorities the following morning.
During a custodial interview, Owens initially claimed self-defense before eventually providing another account in which she said she saw Sims push their child toward her, causing the toddler to stumble. According to this version, Owens picked up the gun and shot him. Prosecutors disputed this characterization, noting Sims was several feet away on the curb when the weapon was fired.
Spartanburg County Sheriff's Office detectives investigated the case. The jury convicted Owens, 25, of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Key Takeaways
- Tyquirez Rashad Sims, 21, was shot and killed outside an apartment complex on College Pointe Lane in Spartanburg County
- Zaria Aiyanna Owens, 25, was convicted of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime
- Prosecutors said the shooting occurred as Sims stood several feet away on the curb after retrieving their child for Owens
- The victim's family described him as a loving father who had recently welcomed his own child, now 6 months old at the time of trial
- Deputy Solicitor Spenser Smith called it 'a tragic case of domestic violence that has impacted two families and two young children'
What's Next
Owens was sentenced to 21 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and an additional five years concurrent for the weapon possession charge. She will serve approximately 21 years total behind bars before becoming eligible for release.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about domestic violence, particularly when children are present during violent incidents between intimate partners.