In the early morning hours of August 14, 2021, a night of leisure in downtown Mobile, Alabama, turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 30-year-old Andrew Sims. The incident occurred at the Saddle Up Saloon, where a dispute escalated into a shooting, leaving two other individuals wounded and a community in mourning.
Andrew, known affectionately to friends and family as “Andy” or “Drew,” was a talented and self-taught tattoo artist and entrepreneur.
A native of Point Clear, Alabama, he was a graduate of Fairhope High School where he attended on a full art scholarship. His artistic talents were recognized with numerous contest wins and publications in local art books. He was a husband and a father to three children.
Following the shooting, an investigation led to the arrest of Freddie Diaz. In February 2023, Diaz was convicted of manslaughter for the death of Andrew Sims and assault for the injuries sustained by the two other victims. He was subsequently sentenced to a total of 40 years in prison, with the 20-year sentences for each count to be served consecutively.
