D.C. Killer Gets 17 Years for Murdering Ex

⏱ 3 min read

A brutal love turned deadly in a D.C. apartment complex last July. Pernell Sims, 35, of Washington, D.C., pleaded guilty to second-degree murder while armed for shooting and killing his ex-romantic partner, Tyshida Williams, on July 30, 2023. The motive was a fight over a phone, and the crime scene was a bedroom where Sims’ child was present.

According to prosecutors, Sims and Williams got into a heated argument over a phone in the lobby of their apartment building. The dispute spilled into the parking garage, where Sims threw Williams to the ground and kicked her in the chest. After returning to their apartment, Sims shot Williams in the head, leaving her to die.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Ferris Pirro vowed to continue prosecuting domestic violence offenders, urging anyone in a violent relationship to contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-SAFE).

Superior Court Associate Judge Todd Edelman handed down the 17-year prison sentence, a move welcomed by authorities who praised the work of investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department and prosecutors Emma McArthur and Stephanie Dinan.