TyQuirez Rashad Sims, a 21-year-old Black male from Spartanburg, South Carolina, was remembered by loved ones for his infectious smile, humble attitude, and goofy behavior. Known as "TQ," he was born and raised in Spartanburg and enjoyed music, jokes, and spending time with his family. More than anything, he cherished being a new father to his six-month-old son, Ja’Cari.
On the evening of August 22, 2023, Sims was at his home at the College Pointe Apartments when an argument broke out
between him and his girlfriend, Zaria Aiyanna Owens. Sims had reportedly asked Owens to move out of his apartment, which led to a heated dispute. During the argument, Owens took Sims's phone and his firearm. When he followed her to her car to retrieve his belongings, the confrontation continued to escalate.
Sims went back inside the apartment and returned with Owens's three-year-old son, bringing the child to her car in an apparent attempt to get her to leave. As Sims stood on the curb, several feet from her vehicle, Owens aimed the gun at him and fired a single shot. The bullet struck Sims in the head, and he was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.
After the shooting, Owens took her son and fled in her car. Police later located her vehicle at another apartment complex, and Owens turned herself in to the sheriff's office the following morning. She initially claimed she had acted in self-defense, but investigators found that her statement was inconsistent with witness accounts and forensic evidence. Owens was arrested and initially charged with murder and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
In July 2026, the case went to trial. A jury found Zaria Aiyanna Owens, then 25, guilty of the lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
Following the jury's verdict, Owens was sentenced to 21 years in prison for the manslaughter conviction. She also received a five-year sentence for the weapons charge, which the court ordered to be served concurrently. The case was closed with her conviction and sentencing in July 2026.
