Billy Adams charged with murder in Alana Sims death
Billy Adams testifies at his double murder trial. The jury acquitted him of killing Trevon Albury and Daniel Thompson. Just a few days later he is said to have shot his pregnant girlfriend Alana Sims. (Screenshot: WTVT)
grand jurors charged a man who allegedly shot and killed his pregnant girlfriend, who was planning to celebrate his acquittal in the unrelated shooting of two men. Billy Bennett Adams III, 25, is charged with first-degree murder and killing an unborn child by injuring the mother.
As previously reported, Tampa, Florida police allege the defendant shot and killed Alana Sims, 22, because he appeared to not want to be in her life and was unwilling to have a child.
Police were called around 10:16 p.m. on January 30 about a woman who was found unresponsive in the Easton Park subdivision court documents. A driver drove past Sims when she was lying on the ground five feet from a Ford Ecosport. She had been shot in the head. Her 2-year-old son was physically unharmed and was in the vehicle.
“As Witness 1 approached the victim, the witness noted the victim was unresponsive and saw a pool of blood next to the body,” officials said.
Officers determined that Sims had been driving the Ecosport, which she borrowed from someone identified as Witness 2. Sims had planned to attend a party for her boyfriend the night of the murder, Witness 2 said in documents.
The planned celebration was for Adam’s Jan. 27 acquittal in the murders of Trevon Albury and Daniel Thompson, police said in a news conference.
RIP IN PEACE: We learn more about Alana Sims, the young mother who was found dead on a Tampa residential street Monday night. https://t.co/SgmwbuLGl9 pic.twitter.com/XAPEUF8ktT
— WFLA NEWS (@WFLA) February 1, 2023
According to documents, police spoke to Adams at his home. He allegedly confirmed knowing Sims but denied knowing that she was dead.
“Additionally, Adams stated that he did not believe he was the father of the victim’s unborn child and stated that he had not seen, spoken to, or texted the victim for several months,” authorities said. “Eventually, Adams informed detectives that he was at home the entire evening of 01/30/2023 and did not leave the house until the next day.”
However, police claimed to have found specific surveillance video showing a Chevy Malibu belonging to Adam’s father driving through the “entry/exit points” of the Easton Park subdivision where Sims died. The Live Oak Preserve subdivision, where the defendant Adams lived, had surveillance footage of the Chevy Malibu exiting Live Oak at 7:10 p.m. on January 30.
“Security for Live Oak Preserve indicated that residents-registered vehicles were fitted with an RFID tag to facilitate vehicle access into the community,” police said. “Security provided information that an RFID linked to Adams III’s residence entered the Life Oak Preserve subdivision at 8:32 p.m. on January 30, 2023. This was also confirmed by surveillance video at the entrance gate.”
Police said they confronted Adams with that evidence. He reportedly changed his story about being home all evening.
“During this second statement, Adams III indicated that he was with friends earlier in the evening of 1/30/2023 and that the three had gone to the Tampa mansions,” officials said. “Adams, III. stated that he left his residence at around 6:50 p.m. and returned home at around 8:30 p.m. on 30 January 2023.
According to police, the suspect gave them a video, allegedly taken on January 30, showing him with his friends. But officials noted that the video was actually taken on February 1 but was altered to show the date of January 30.
Police said they confiscated Adams’ phone, obtained a search warrant and found he was communicating with a woman named Lakenya Brantley. From this, the officials determined the presumed motive for the murder of Sims:
During these IMessages, a possible motive was developed. During the Jan. 29, 2023 news, Adams III shares that “this shit is done tomorrow.” Other messages indicated that Brantley was upset about the victim’s pregnancy and that Adams, III wanted his life and that “she” would not be included. Brantley texts Adams II back and says, “That’s not the way, baby”. As previously mentioned, these IMessages occurred on January 29, 2023 and the murder of the victim occurred the next day, January 30, 2023. Finally, the cell phone extraction of Adams III’s phone on 1/30 had taken place. a search of maps. 2023 for the Easton Park subdivision (search performed at 6:43 p.m.)
After his arrest, Adams initially denied having had any contact with Sims on January 30. Police say they confronted him about the inconsistencies in his story, and he eventually admitted he met with her. However, he allegedly claimed he killed Sims in self-defense. Officers said he also revised this story:
Initially, the defendant alleged that the victim pointed a gun at him and while the defendant wrestled with the victim, he shot her. When the defendant was unable to establish the events, the defendant amended his statement to the effect that the victim pointed a gun at him and he got the gun away from the victim and then shot her in the head in self-defense. When asked about the whereabouts of the gun, the defendant said he threw it away on the way home after the shooting. Adams, III further confirmed that he knew the victim was pregnant and that he could possibly be the father.
Adams remains being held without bail at Falkenburg Road Jail in Hillsborough County, Fla., records show.
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https://lawandcrime.com/crime/florida-man-indicted-for-allegedly-killing-pregnant-girlfriend-who-wanted-to-celebrate-his-murder-acquittal/ Billy Adams charged with murder in Alana Sims death
