A South Carolina woman has been sentenced to more than two decades in prison after a jury found her guilty of fatally shooting her boyfriend outside an apartment complex while her 3-year-old son was present.
According to prosecutors, Zaria Aiyanna Owens, 25, was convicted in Spartanburg County of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime in connection with the August 2023 death of Tyquirez Rashad Sims, 21.
Following the verdict, the court sentenced Owens to 21 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter and five years for the weapon offense. The sentences will be served concurrently, meaning at the same time.
Argument Began Outside Apartment Complex
The shooting occurred just before 9 p.m. outside an apartment complex on College Pointe Lane in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
According to prosecutors, Owens and Sims had been living together, but Sims had recently told Owens she needed to move out of his apartment.
Investigators said the disagreement over the move escalated into an argument outside the residence.
Dispute Escalated After Gun and Phone Were Taken
According to the prosecution, Sims realized during the argument that Owens had taken his cellphone and his firearm.
He followed Owens to her vehicle as the confrontation continued.
Prosecutors told jurors that Owens pointed Sims’ own gun at him. Sims then returned inside the apartment, picked up Owens’ 3-year-old son, and brought the child outside to Owens’ vehicle in an apparent attempt to encourage her to leave.
Victim Fatally Shot
Witnesses told investigators they saw Owens raise the firearm toward Sims before a shot was fired.
Authorities said Sims was struck once in the head.
Prosecutors stated that forensic evidence showed Sims was standing on a curb several feet away from Owens when the fatal shot was fired.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene, but Sims was pronounced dead.
Owens Left Scene Before Turning Herself In
After the shooting, prosecutors said Owens placed her son in the vehicle and drove away.
Police later located the vehicle at another apartment complex.
Owens surrendered to law enforcement the following morning.
Defendant Changed Her Account
During questioning, Owens initially told investigators that she had acted in self-defense.
According to prosecutors, she later changed her statement, saying she was reaching for her son after Sims pushed the child toward her, causing the toddler to stumble.
She admitted that she then picked up the gun and shot Sims.
Authorities later confirmed that the child was not injured during the incident.
Jury Returns Guilty Verdict
After considering the evidence presented during the trial, the jury convicted Owens of voluntary manslaughter rather than murder.
She was also found guilty of possessing a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Prosecutors Describe Lasting Impact
Prosecutors said Sims had recently become the father of a 6-month-old baby before his death.
Deputy Solicitor Spenser Smith described the case as a tragic act of domestic violence that affected two families and two young children.
He noted that Sims’ infant child lost a father, while Owens’ son witnessed the shooting and will now grow up without his mother because of her prison sentence.
Sentence
Zaria Aiyanna Owens was sentenced to 21 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter, along with a concurrent five-year sentence for the firearm conviction.
The case concludes the criminal proceedings arising from the August 2023 shooting, although Owens retains the right to pursue any appeals available under South Carolina law.
