A South Carolina mother will spend the next 21 years in prison for shooting her boyfriend to death in front of her 3-year-old son after he forced her to move out of his apartment.
Zaria Aiyanna Owens, 25, was convicted Thursday by a Spartanburg County jury on charges of voluntary manslaughter and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. The August 2023 killing claimed the life of 21-year-old Tyquirez Rashad Sims.
What Happened at the Spartanburg Apartment
According to court proceedings, the fatal shooting occurred after Sims told Owens she had to leave his apartment. The confrontation escalated to violence, ending with Owens firing the weapon that killed Sims while her toddler witnessed the entire incident.
The jury heard evidence about the circumstances leading to the shooting, ultimately rejecting any claim of justifiable homicide. Voluntary manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of 30 years in South Carolina, indicating jurors found Owens acted in the heat of passion rather than with premeditation.
The Sentence and What Comes Next
The 21-year prison term reflects both convictions. Possession of a weapon during a violent crime adds mandatory consecutive time to any underlying offense in South Carolina law. Owens will serve the sentence in state custody without possibility of parole until she completes at least 85% of the term under truth-in-sentencing laws.
The case represents another tragedy where a child loses both parents to violence—one dead, one imprisoned. The 3-year-old boy, now 6, will be an adult before his mother walks free.
Spartanburg County prosecutors secured the conviction in what appears to have been a straightforward presentation of evidence. No appeals have been filed yet, though defendants typically have 10 days to notify the court of intent to appeal.
Key Points
- Zaria Owens, 25, convicted of voluntary manslaughter for August 2023 shooting death of boyfriend Tyquirez Sims, 21
- Owens killed Sims in front of her 3-year-old son after dispute over moving out of his Spartanburg apartment
- 21-year sentence means Owens won’t be eligible for release until serving at least 85% of term under state law
https://lawandcrime.com/crime/woman-killed-boyfriend-in-front-of-her-3-year-old-child-after-the-victim-made-her-move-out-of-his-apartment/ – July 18, 2026
