Winston-Salem woman sentenced to prison for 2020 murder

Terika Shannail Sims, 43, pleaded guilty Oct. 11 to second-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury and possession of a firearm by a criminal, according to court records.

Judge David Hall of Forsyth Superior Court sentenced Sims to 13 years and eight months to 17 years and five months in prison.

Winston-Salem police responded to a reported shooting at 4:05 a.m. on May 9, 2020, in the 900 block of Woodcote Drive, police said at the time.

Officers found Malika Charmane Davis, 32, and her brother, Tyrone Lamont Davis, 36, suffering from gunshot wounds, the Forsyth County Prosecutor’s Office said. They were taken to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center for treatment.

Malika Davis, a mother of two, died from a gunshot wound to the abdomen, the district attorney’s office said. Tyrone Davis was treated for a gunshot wound to the shoulder and released from the hospital.

Before the shooting, police learned that a party had been held at Tyrone Davis’ home, the district attorney’s office said. At one point, Sims got into an argument on the phone with a relative of Malika and Tyrone Davis.

During the argument, Sims said she would go home to get her gun, the prosecutor’s office said. Sims then returned to the party and got involved in a fight.

When Malika and Tyrone Davis came out to tell Sims to leave, Sims fought with Malika Davis, the prosecutor’s office said.

During the struggle, both women fell to the ground, according to search warrants.

Sims shot Malika Davis and then Tyrone Davis as he tried to help his sister, the prosecutor’s office said. Sims left the scene before police arrived.

Steven Lamont Sims, 52, of Winston-Salem, Sims’ uncle, was charged with accessory after the fact to assault with a deadly weapon in the shooting, according to an arrest warrant.

Steven Sims is accused of helping Sims leave the scene of the shooting, the warrant states.

“Malika’s family describes her as a peacemaker,” prosecutor Jim O’Neill said in a statement. “It is heartbreaking that Malika was drawn into this argument against her will and that (Terika Sims) chose to take her life and shoot her brother.”

“While we will never be able to return what was taken from this family, the DA’s Office will continue to hold those who commit violent crimes in our community accountable,” O’Neill said.