Keith Sims sentenced to 18 years to life in prison for 2014 murder

YOUNGSTOWN — Keith Sims was sentenced today to 18 years to life in prison for the Oct. 25, 2014, murder of Shaneice Wells.

Sims, 27, of Ford Avenue, drew the from Judge Maureen A. Sweeney of Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.

The sentence consists of 15 years to life for the murder and the mandatory, consecutive three-year firearm specification.

In April, a jury convicted Sims after deliberating less than two hours.

Wells, 23, of Maplewood Court, was shot in the pelvis outside a home in the 800 block of East Boston Avenue and later died of blood loss in St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital.

Wells was fatally shot after an argument by a group of women that stemmed from a dispute Sims was having with a man in a detached garage in the backyard concerning noise.

Wells came with a group of women, who were recruited by another woman to fight, but prosecutors said she was fatally shot after the argument had ended, and she was walking away from the home.

For the complete story, read Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com