Press Release
The Office of State Attorney Glenn Hess announces that on August 16, 2019, a Bay County jury found the defendant, Larry D. Sims, guilty as charged of Attempted 1st Degree Murder, Attempted 1st Degree Felony Murder, Armed Burglary with an Assault or Battery with a Firearm, and Attempted 2nd Degree Murder.
Evidence presented at trial proved that Sims, after arguing with his girlfriend, the victim, entered her home by kicking in the front door and master bedroom door in the early morning hours of April 10, 2017, in Parker, Florida. Sgt. Peavy with the Parker Police Department was on routine patrol when he heard gunshots coming from a residence across the street from Parker Elementary. The dash came caught the audio and video of parts of the shooting incident. The defendant had taken the victim out of her home by the hair and as she tried to run away, shot her multiple times. After she fell to the ground, the defendant stood over her and shot her multiple times into the ground. The children who were inside the home witnessed the shooting and then ran across the street to Sgt. Peavy who had just activated his blue lights. While the children ran, Sims took aim and fired an additional round at one of the children. Sgt. Peavy immediately took the children into his patrol vehicle and secured them. Sims immediately fled the scene. Investigators with the Parker Police Department and Bay County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case alongside the State Attorney’s Office. Sims was later arrested on a warrant.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant State Attorney Peter Overstreet. Sentencing is set for August 30, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. before the Honorable Dustin Stephenson. Sims faces a mandatory life sentence on all counts under the 10/20/Life law and he is a designated Prison Releasee Reoffender under Florida Law.
For additional information, contact Chief Assistant State Attorney Larry Basford.