Sims Found Guilty Of Murder In Mass College Hill Courts Shooting; Gets Life Prison Sentence

  • Saturday, April 8, 2017

A Criminal Court jury Friday found Cortez Sims guilty in a mass shooting at College Hill Courts in early January, 2015.

He was sentenced to life in prison after being found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Talitha Bowman, who was shot twice in the back.

Sims was also found guilty of attempted murder in the shooting of Bianca Horton, her daughter Zoe Horton and Marcel Christopher.

He was found guilty of possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a felony.

Sentencing will be May 22 on the cases other than the first-degree murder.

Bianca Horton was gunned down last year and her body dumped by a road. Her recorded testimony was played to the jury in the courtroom of Judge Barry Steelman. No arrest has been made in her slaying.

Zoe Horton was left paralyzed from the chest down.

Marcel Christopher said at the time of the shooting that Sims did it, but he refused to testify at the trial.

The state said Sims and Christopher were in Bloods gangs that were in a feud.

The defense put on no proof and had no final argument.

The jury deliberated about seven hours before bringing in the verdicts shortly after 11 p.m.

It was a sequestered jury.

Breaking News
Man And Woman Who Drowned At Signal Mountain's Rainbow Lake Are Identified
Man And Woman Who Drowned At Signal Mountain's Rainbow Lake Are Identified
  • 4/30/2024

Two friends who drowned in the waters near Signal Mountain's Rainbow Lake Trail on Sunday evening have been identified. They were Greffania Merilus, 23, of Cohutta, Ga., and Gullson Elve, ... more

Missing Injured Hiker Is Rescued On Rainbow Lake Trail On Signal Mountain
Missing Injured Hiker Is Rescued On Rainbow Lake Trail On Signal Mountain
  • 4/30/2024

First responders return to Rainbow Lake Trail (Signal Mountain) regarding another rescue call. At 12:30 p.m., a woman called 911 reporting her husband, 45, missing and that he did not return ... more

Tennessee AG Fighting Federal Effort "To Let Boys Into Girls’ Locker Rooms"
  • 4/30/2024

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti on Tuesday led six states in suing the federal Department of Education (DOE) "to challenge its dangerous overhaul of Title IX of the Educational Amendments ... more